How many tick vaccinations are given to children? - briefly
Children generally receive a single dose of a tick‑borne disease vaccine when it is recommended, and many health systems do not include routine tick vaccinations for pediatric patients. Consequently, the standard schedule consists of one administration, with no further doses required in most protocols.
How many tick vaccinations are given to children? - in detail
Tick‑borne disease prevention for pediatric patients relies primarily on the vaccine against tick‑borne encephalitis (TBE). The regimen approved in Europe consists of a primary series of two injections followed by a booster dose. The first injection is administered at the earliest age approved by the vaccine manufacturer (often 1 year). The second dose follows 1–3 months later, establishing initial immunity. A booster is given 1–3 years after the primary series; subsequent boosters are recommended every five years to maintain protection throughout childhood and adolescence.
- Primary series: two doses (interval 1–3 months)
- First booster: 1–3 years after the second dose
- Additional boosters: every 5 years thereafter
A separate Lyme disease vaccine is not presently authorized for use in children. Historical formulations required three doses administered at 0, 1, and 6 months, but these products have been withdrawn from the market. Consequently, no routine Lyme‑specific immunization schedule exists for pediatric populations.
In practice, a child receiving the TBE vaccine typically completes three injections before reaching school age, with later boosters administered according to the five‑year interval. The total number of doses varies with the individual’s age at initiation and adherence to the booster schedule, but the standard course comprises three primary injections followed by periodic boosters.