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Tick-Borne Encephalitis Vaccine

What is tick-borne encephalitis?

• Tick-borne encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain.
• It is caused by a virus and is usually spread by the bite of

   infected ticks.
• Symptoms can include fever, paralysis and encephalitis.
• Between 1 - 20% of infected people will die.
• 10 - 20% of infected people can have permanent nerve

   damage.

What does tick-borne encephalitis vaccine contain?

• Tick-borne encephalitis vaccine contains aluminum

   hydroxide, human albumin, formaldehyde, chick protein,

   neomycin sulphate, gentamycin sulphate, potassium

   sulphate, protamine sulphate, disodium hydrogen

   phosphate, dihydral potassium dihydrogen phosphate

   and sucrose.
• Tick-borne encephalitis vaccine does not contain latex.

Who should receive this vaccine?

• Travellers who will be working under high risk conditions

   (foresters, farmers, military personnel, or tourists) who

   will be engaged in high risk activities (e.g. field work,

   camping or hunting) in European and Asian countries,

   where the disease is common (e.g. former USSR).

Who should not receive the vaccine?

• Anyone who has had a life-threatening allergic reaction to

   any of the vaccine components .
• People with moderate to severe illness may have to delay

   immunization.
• Anyone less than 16 years of age.

When should the vaccine be given?

• A series of 3 injections, usually given:
   - 1st dose
   - 2nd dose, 1 – 3 months later
   - 3rd dose, 9 – 12 months after 2nd dose
• Begin at least two months before departure.
• May be safely given with other vaccines.

How is the vaccine given?

• By injection into a muscle.

How effective is the vaccine?

• 97% are protected after the third dose.

How long does the protection last?

• At least three years.

What might be felt after receiving the vaccine?

• Sore muscles and joints (1-10%)
• Headache (1-10%)
• Fatigue or malaise (1-10%)
• Injection site swelling, redness, hardness or warmth

   (<1%)
• Nausea (1-10%) or vomiting (<1%)
• Blood and lymph nodes disorders (<1%)
• Rarely, fever lasting 24 hours may occur
• Very rarely, eye, nervous system, skin, general disorders

   or encephalitis may occur
• The vaccine may cause aggravation of existing

   autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis
• The vaccine carries an estimated theoretical risk of 1 in

   100 million doses of causing variant Cruetzfeldt-Jakob

   Disease (a fatal disease of the nervous system) based on

   advice from Health Canada.

Contact the number below if you have severe or unusual reactions.

For more information contact Public Health Services at (306) 655-4780.

Your immunization information will be recorded in a computerized system known as the Saskatchewan Immunization Management Systems (SIMS). 

Information collected in SIMS may be used to:

• manage immunization records

• notify you if you or your child needs an immunization

• and monitor how well vaccines work in preventing vaccine preventable diseases.

Your immunization records may also be shared with health care professionals in order to provide public health services; assist with diagnosis and treatment; and to control the spread of vaccine preventable diseases.

©2008, Saskatoon Health Region.  Reproduced only by permission.

(Updated March 2, 2009)