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Vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025

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Tick-borne encephalitis is caused by a flavivirus, transmitted by ixodid ticks, cases of infection through fresh milk have been described. After a 10-day incubation period, it manifests itself as catarrh, fever, headache, joint pain, and CNS damage (encephalitis - 30%, meningitis - 60%, meningoencephalitis - 10%). Endemic in forest and taiga zones. Vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis in endemic areas has led to a decrease in the incidence: if in 2001 in Russia 6401 cases of tick-borne encephalitis were registered (incidence 4.38 per 100,000, in children 976 and 3.67 respectively), then in 2007 3162 people fell ill (2.21 per 100,000), including 405 children (1.86 per 100,000). In addition to risk groups, vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis is also necessary for schoolchildren, which is carried out on a mass scale in a number of regions.
Indications, routes of administration and dosage
Tick-borne encephalitis vaccine, dry, cultured, concentrated, for children and adults. The course consists of 2 doses (0.5 ml each) in autumn and spring with an interval of 5-7 months (the minimum permissible interval is 2 months). The first revaccination is after 1 year, then every three years. The vaccine is administered subcutaneously in the subscapular region or intramuscularly in the deltoid muscle, for children - from the age of 3 years.
EnceVir is used from the age of 3 years. The course consists of 2 intramuscular injections of 0.5 ml with an interval of 5-7 or 1-2 months (emergency scheme). The first revaccination is after 1 year, the following ones - after 3 years.
FSME-IMMUN® (culture, highly purified, sorbed) is administered to individuals over 16 years of age at a dose of 0.5 ml intramuscularly; it can be administered simultaneously with other vaccines in different parts of the body. Children aged 6 months to 16 years are given the FSME-IMMUN® Junior vaccine. Primary (standard) vaccination: 2 doses with an interval of 1-3 months, emergency vaccination - with an interval of 14 days. Booster after 5-12 months, then after 3 years. Children under one year are vaccinated if there is a high risk of infection. Shelf life is 30 months.
Encepur-adult is used from the age of 12 years. Two schemes are used. Traditional: 2 injections with an interval of 1-2 months, the third - 9-12 months after the second. The protective level of antibodies is achieved 2 weeks after the 2nd vaccination. Emergency scheme: 0-7-21st day - 9-12 months. Revaccination - after 3-5 years. Effective protection 3 weeks after the start of vaccine administration.
Encepur-children is administered to children aged 1-12 years according to the same two regimens indicated above.
Human immunoglobulin against tick-borne encephalitis (IG) is administered 96 hours before visiting foci of non-vaccinated people - intramuscularly once at a dose of 0.1 ml/kg. The protective effect begins after 24 hours and lasts about 4 weeks, after which the same dose is repeated
Vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis: characteristics of the preparations
Vaccines against tick-borne encephalitis - inactivated, adsorbed on aluminum hydroxide, differ in the initial strains of the virus, antigen and protein content. All vaccines are stored at 2-8°.
Tick-borne encephalitis vaccines registered in Russia
Vaccine |
Compound |
Dry tick-borne encephalitis vaccine for children and adults, Russia |
Antigen (strain Sofjin or 20S), kanamycin up to 75 mcg. Without preservative. Protein up to 30 mcg. Used from 3 years. |
EnceVir - liquid vaccine, Russia |
Virus suspension (growth on chicken embryo cell culture). In 1 dose (0.5 ml) chicken protein up to 0.5 mcg, human albumin up to 250 mcg, aluminum hydroxide 0.3-0.5 mg. Without antibiotics and preservatives. Used from 3 years. |
FSME-IMMUN® - Baxter Vaccin AG, Austria. Junior (0.5-16 years) |
In 1 dose (0.5 ml) 2.38 μg of Neudoerfl strain virus (growth on chicken embryo cell culture), phosphate buffer, human albumin. Without preservatives, antibiotics and heterogeneous proteins. FSME-IMMUN® Junior - 0.25 ml/dose. |
Encepur-adult, Encepur-children Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics GmbH & Co., KG, Germany |
0.5 ml (adult dose) contains 1.5 mcg of K23 strain virus antigen, aluminum hydroxide (1 mg). Without preservatives, protein stabilizers and human blood components. Used at the age of 1-11 years and over 12 years. |
For emergency passive immunoprophylaxis, human immunoglobulins against tick-borne encephalitis are used.
Vaccination reactions and contraindications to vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis
At the injection sites, pain, swelling and compaction may occasionally be observed, sometimes with enlarged lymph nodes, and even more rarely - granuloma. After the 1st dose, a short-term increase in temperature, headache, pain in the limbs, nausea and vomiting are sometimes observed, with subsequent doses these symptoms are rarely observed. Allergic reactions are extremely rare. According to WHO, FSME-Immun gives side effects with a frequency of 0.01-0.0001%. At the site of immunoglobulin administration, skin itching and pain are possible, very rarely - anaphylactic reactions.
Contraindications, in addition to those common to all vaccines, include allergy to chicken eggs; vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis is permitted 2 weeks after childbirth. The use of FSME-Immun is not contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Post-exposure prophylaxis of tick-borne encephalitis
Human immunoglobulin (HI) is administered after a tick bite (to persons who are not vaccinated or vaccinated less than 10 days before the bite): in the first 96 hours - 0.1-0.2 ml/kg (slowly, deep into the muscle), 5 ml in different parts of the body. After the 4th day for 28 days - the incubation of tick-borne encephalitis - the drug is not administered, since this can aggravate the manifestations of the disease. For the same reason, in a number of countries it is not administered to children under 14 years of age. The drug has been withdrawn from sale in many countries.
The interval between the administration of specific immunoglobulin and vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis should be at least 4 weeks.
Attention!
To simplify the perception of information, this instruction for use of the drug "Vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis" translated and presented in a special form on the basis of the official instructions for medical use of the drug. Before use read the annotation that came directly to medicines.
Description provided for informational purposes and is not a guide to self-healing. The need for this drug, the purpose of the treatment regimen, methods and dose of the drug is determined solely by the attending physician. Self-medication is dangerous for your health.