Vaccination against Lyme disease
There is a Lyme disease vaccine, but it only protects against the Borrelia bacteria found in the USA. No vaccine against Lyme disease is yet available in Germany, as different types of borrelia are found in Europe. This is one of the reasons why it is so difficult to develop a vaccine for these latitudes.
Vaccination against TBE
The tick vaccination available in Germany is a vaccination against TBE viruses, the causative agents of tick-borne encephalitis. People who live in risk areas can protect themselves with this tick vaccination.
It is a so-called active vaccination with an inactivated vaccine. “Active” means that after the vaccination, the immune system must independently (“actively”) produce antibodies against the TBE viruses. An inactivated vaccine is a vaccine that contains killed pathogens that can no longer cause disease, but still activate the body’s immune system.
The vaccination against TBE must be administered three times to ensure protection for three years. The second vaccination dose is given one to three months after the first. The third dose is administered five to twelve or nine to twelve months after the first, depending on the vaccine. After three years, the tick vaccination must be boostered.
You can read more about the vaccination in the article TBE vaccination.
In some cases, the costs of this tick vaccination are covered by statutory health insurance. This usually applies to people who live in a TBE risk area. Some health insurance companies also cover the costs of a tick vaccination as a travel vaccination. Ask your health insurance provider about the coverage of costs.
Tick vaccination: side effects
As with any other vaccination, side effects can also occur with a tick vaccination. These are usually reactions at the vaccination site: slight pain, slight redness or swelling.
If you are allergic to chicken protein, you may also have an allergic reaction to the tick vaccine. Discuss with your doctor in advance whether you can still be vaccinated or how you can protect yourself from a tick bite in another way.
Tick vaccination for children
Infants under one year of age are often still protected against infection with TBE viruses by the so-called nest protection. If the mother had an effective vaccination against TBE at the time of pregnancy, the antibodies from her blood were probably transferred to the child via the placenta. The child is thus protected against TBE in the first months of life.
