TBE vaccination at OpenMed Warsaw and Płock

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a viral disease transmitted mainly by infected ticks. It can be mild, but in some patients the virus attacks the central nervous system and causes inflammation of the meninges, the brain or the spinal cord. Unlike Lyme disease, TBE is not treated with antibiotics, and treatment is limited to relieving the symptoms.

Effective prevention is available, however, in the form of vaccination. At OpenMed you can discuss the indications for TBE vaccination and receive the successive doses according to the appropriate schedule.

Tick-borne encephalitis - why protect yourself?

Infection with the TBE virus most often follows a bite from an infected tick. The virus can be passed on relatively quickly, so removing the tick promptly, although always advisable, does not give the same protection against TBE as it does against some tick-borne bacterial infections.

The risk of contact with ticks is not limited to people who regularly walk in forests. Ticks are also found in meadows, allotments, gardens and urban green spaces. Cases in Poland show a clear seasonal pattern, but tick activity can start at relatively mild temperatures.

The infection often has no symptoms. If symptoms do appear, the first phase may resemble a viral infection. In some patients, after a period of improvement, a second phase develops that involves the nervous system.

Symptoms of TBE

The first symptoms may be non-specific, which makes the infection hard to recognise from them alone. Depending on the course of the disease, the following may occur:

fever,
headache and muscle pain,
weakness,
nausea,

and in the neurological phase also:

severe headache,
neck stiffness,
balance problems,
impaired consciousness or other neurological symptoms.

A more severe course is seen more often in older people. After a neuroinfection, some patients may experience after-effects of the disease for a long time, including problems with concentration, headaches or chronic fatigue. This is why preventing infection is so important in the case of TBE.

Who is TBE vaccination for?

Vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis is recommended above all to people who, because of where they live, their work or the way they spend their free time, are exposed to contact with ticks. This includes people who often spend time in forests and green areas, runners, cyclists, mushroom pickers, allotment gardeners and people planning trips to areas where TBE is more common.

Vaccination can be given to adults and to children once they reach the age specified for the given vaccine. Before the vaccine is given, medical staff assess your current health and any contraindications.

What is the TBE vaccination schedule?

The full primary course consists of three doses. The second is given after the first at an interval that depends on the vaccine used, and the third after a further few months. Accelerated schedules are also available and can be used when protection is needed more quickly, for example before a planned trip.

After the primary course is complete, booster doses are needed. Their timing depends on age, the vaccine used and the time that has passed since the previous dose. If you started the course earlier and do not remember when the next dose is due, it is worth preparing your record of previous vaccinations before the visit.

Does the vaccination also protect against Lyme disease?

No. This is a common misunderstanding. The TBE vaccine protects against tick-borne encephalitis caused by the TBE virus. Lyme disease, on the other hand, is a bacterial disease, and TBE vaccination does not prevent it. Even after a full course of vaccination, you should still reduce the risk of tick bites. After returning from a forest, park or meadow, check your skin, and remove any tick you find as quickly and correctly as possible.

TBE vaccination - FAQ

: The primary course consists of three doses. Booster doses follow. The exact intervals depend on the vaccine, the patient's age and the chosen vaccination schedule.
: Yes. The course can also be started during the tick season. In certain situations an accelerated schedule is available.
: No. Vaccination reduces the risk of developing tick-borne encephalitis, but it does not prevent tick bites or other diseases transmitted by ticks.
: Yes. The TBE vaccine does not protect against Lyme disease, so vaccinated people should also take measures to limit contact with ticks.
: The course can be started all year round. If you want to be protected before the period of greatest tick activity, plan the first doses early enough.