Tick-Borne Encephalitis Vaccine

When to book the tick-borne encephalitis vaccine

The TBE vaccine is recommended for travellers who:

• Are visiting regions where tick-borne encephalitis occurs
• Plan outdoor activities such as hiking, camping or cycling
• Are staying in rural or forested areas
• Are travelling between spring and autumn, when ticks are most active

Start the course at least 6 to 8 weeks before travel to allow immunity to develop. The vaccine is not routinely available on the NHS and is usually provided privately through pharmacies and travel clinics.

What is tick-borne encephalitis?

TBE is a viral infection spread mainly through the bite of infected ticks, and occasionally through unpasteurised milk or dairy products from infected animals. Infected ticks are found across:

• Central and Eastern Europe
• Scandinavia
• Russia
• Parts of China and Japan

Ticks live in woodland, grassland and rural areas, so travellers spending time outdoors are at higher risk.

Symptoms

Many people have no symptoms or only mild illness. Early symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, muscle aches and nausea. More severe cases can lead to meningitis, encephalitis (brain inflammation), confusion or other neurological symptoms, seizures and paralysis.

Vaccination schedule

• First dose - day 0
• Second dose - 1 to 3 months after the first
• Third dose - 5 to 12 months after the second

After the full course, protection usually lasts around three years, after which a booster may be recommended. Your pharmacist will review your destination, travel plans and vaccination history, give the vaccine in the upper arm in a private consultation room, and tell you when to return for the remaining doses.

Reducing your risk of tick bites

• Wear long sleeves and trousers in wooded areas
• Use insect repellent containing DEET
• Stay on marked paths when hiking
• Check skin and clothing for ticks after being outdoors

Find the TBE vaccine near you

Professional travel health consultations, experienced pharmacist vaccinators and private consultation rooms at convenient local branches. Use the postcode search to find your nearest Allied Pharmacy.