When to vaccinate against ticks? - briefly
Vaccination is recommended in early spring, prior to the onset of tick activity, usually between March and April. A booster dose is given in late summer, before the next tick season begins.
When to vaccinate against ticks? - in detail
Vaccination against tick‑borne diseases must be completed before the period of highest tick activity. The immune system requires 2–4 weeks after the final dose to develop protective antibody levels; therefore administration should precede the start of the season.
For companion animals, the recommended protocol includes an initial series of two injections given 2–4 weeks apart, beginning at 8–12 weeks of age. A booster is administered one year after the primary series, followed by annual revaccination timed to occur at least 2 weeks before the onset of local tick activity. The schedule can be summarized as follows:
- First dose: 8–12 weeks of age.
- Second dose: 2–4 weeks after the first.
- First booster: 12 months after the second dose.
- Subsequent boosters: every 12 months, scheduled before the tick season.
Human vaccination against tick‑borne encephalitis follows a similar principle. The primary series consists of two doses: the first at any convenient time, the second 1–3 months later. A third dose is given 5–12 months after the second to establish long‑term immunity. Booster injections are required every 3–5 years for adults and every 5 years for children, again administered before the peak activity of the vector.
Special considerations include:
- Individuals residing in or traveling to high‑risk endemic regions should complete the primary series at least 1 month prior to exposure.
- Immunocompromised patients may require additional serological monitoring to confirm adequate antibody titers.
- Pregnant women should consult a healthcare professional, as some tick‑borne disease vaccines are contraindicated during pregnancy.
In all cases, adherence to the outlined timing ensures that protective immunity is present when exposure risk is greatest, thereby reducing the incidence of tick‑transmitted infections.