Travel Vaccines

Tick Borne Encephalitis Travel Vaccine

Tick Borne Encephalitis Travel Vaccine

If you’re looking to travel abroad and need guidance on the vaccinations that you require, simply visit the below link and check which vaccinations you require.

Our team of professional doctors located Nationwide are on hand to assist with your vaccination requirements.

Tick Borne Encephalitis

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a viral infection spread by tick bites. Ticks infected with the virus are found in parts of Europe (including the UK) and Asia. In the UK, the risk of getting it is very low.

Check if you could be at risk of tick-borne encephalitis

The risk of getting tick-borne encephalitis is very low.

Ticks that spread it can be found in:

• most of Europe – including the UK
• Russia
• parts of China and Japan

Ticks live in woodlands and grassy areas, but they can also be found in some parks and gardens.

In the UK, only a very small number of ticks carry the TBE virus. Even if you’re bitten by a tick, the risk of getting seriously ill is very low.

Information:

You can check the risks of a country you’re travelling to on the TravelHealthPro website

How to reduce your risk of tick-borne encephalitis

There are things you can do to reduce your risk of getting tick-borne encephalitis in the UK and abroad.

Avoiding tick bites

To reduce your risk of being bitten by a tick when you’re outside:

• regularly check your clothes and skin for ticks that might be crawling on you and brush them off before they can bite you – wear light coloured clothing so it’s easier to spot any ticks
• walk on clearly defined paths to avoid brushing against plants that may have ticks on them
• use an insect repellent such as DEET on your skin – you can also get clothes that contain insect repellent
• wear long trousers and long-sleeved tops so it’s harder for ticks to bite you

Ticks can sometimes be very small and hard to spot. They get bigger if they bite you and feed on your blood.

Vaccine for travellers

Consider having the tick-borne encephalitis vaccine if you’re visiting a country where the infection is common and you’re planning to do outdoor activities when you get there.

2 injections of the vaccine can protect you for about a year. A 3rd injection can protect you for about 3 years.

You need to have the first injection at least 1 month before travelling.

The vaccine is not available on the NHS. Search online for a travel clinic that offers it.

Symptoms of tick-borne encephalitis

The virus that causes tick-borne encephalitis does not cause symptoms in most people.

Some people get flu-like symptoms about a week after being bitten, such as:

• a high temperature
• tiredness
• a headache
• aches and pains
• feeling sick

The symptoms usually go away on their own, but in a few people the infection spreads to the brain and causes more serious symptoms a few days or weeks later.

These can include:

• a stiff neck and a severe headache
• pain when looking at bright lights
• a fit (seizure)
• a change in behaviour, confusion or slurred speech
• weakness or loss of movement in part of the body

VACCINE PRICE LIST