Vaccination against tick -borne encephalitis can be started at any time of the year, but it is best to start in the winter months. This is because the tick activity is low and the body has enough time to create antibodies in adequate quantities before the period of massive occurrence of ticks occurs. This stems from the recommendations of the Public Health Authority (ÚVZ) of the Slovak Republic available on its website.
“Basic vaccination consists of administration of three doses of the vaccine, and the first dose is best suited to administer in the cold months (January, February). The second dose is given one to three months after the first dose and the third dose nine to 12 months after the second dose“He said that there is also a shortened vaccination scheme when the second dose is administered after two weeks.
The first two doses may partially protect against the disease according to ÚVZ. Complete vaccination with three doses protects for at least three years and is recommended for vaccination with one dose.
Tick -borne encephalitis is an acute infectious viral disease that affects the central nervous system. In addition to infected ticks, it may also be transmitted by some foods, and the risk may be in particular unpasteurized products from goat and sheep’s milk. Long -term consequences of the disease can be of different nature – headache, fatigue, memory disorder, concentration, paralysis, in risk cases may result in death. Vaccination is the most effective prevention against the disease.
