When is the first tick vaccine administered to children? - briefly
The primary dose of the tick‑borne encephalitis vaccine is administered at approximately 12 months of age. A second dose is given 1–3 months later to complete the initial series.
When is the first tick vaccine administered to children? - in detail
The first dose of a tick‑borne disease vaccine is typically given during the first year of life. In most European immunisation programmes the schedule is:
- Age for initial injection: 9 – 12 months.
- Second dose: 1 – 3 months after the first.
- Third dose (booster): 5 – 12 months after the second.
Both licensed tick‑borne encephalitis (TBE) vaccines—Encepur and FSME‑Immun—follow this timetable, with the initial administration allowed as early as nine months for infants whose weight exceeds 5 kg. If an infant receives the first dose later than 12 months, the same interval intervals apply; a catch‑up schedule can be initiated at any age, provided the minimum interval of four weeks between the first two doses is respected.
Safety data show that local reactions (redness, swelling) are the most common adverse events, occurring in less than 10 % of recipients. Systemic reactions such as fever or irritability are reported in 2 – 5 % of children and resolve spontaneously. Contraindications include severe allergy to any vaccine component and acute febrile illness at the time of vaccination.
For regions where Lyme disease vaccination becomes available, early‑childhood dosing is expected to mirror the TBE schedule, pending regulatory approval. Health‑care providers should verify the national immunisation calendar, confirm the child’s age and weight, and document the exact dates of each injection to ensure proper spacing and timely booster administration.