Ticovac
Ticovac is a vaccine that can help lower the risk of getting tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). It's given as an injection into the muscle by a healthcare provider to people who are 1 year of age and older. You need to get 3 doses over at least 6 months to finish the primary series, and then you can get a booster shot at least 3 years later. Some common side effects include pain at the injection site and headache.
What is Ticovac?
What is Ticovac used for?
- Prevention of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE)
How Ticovac works
Ticovac is an inactivated vaccine (made from a dead virus). It helps protect you from the TBE virus that can cause a condition known as TBE. The vaccine helps your body's immune system make proteins called antibodies against the virus. These antibodies will attack the virus if it ever infects your body.
Drug facts
Side effects of Ticovac
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
Ages 1 to 15 years old:
- Tenderness at injection site (18%)
- Pain at injection site (11%)
- Headache (11%)
- Fever (10%)
- Restlessness (9%)
Ages 16 to 65 years old:
- Tenderness at injection site (30%)
- Pain at injection site (13%)
- Feeling tired (7%)
- Headache (6%)
- Muscle pain (5%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Joint pain
- Feeling unwell
- Nausea
- Low appetite
Ticovac serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Serious allergic reaction: rash; dizziness; shortness of breath; chest pain; swelling in the throat, lips, tongue, or face
The following Ticovac side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Pain, redness, or irritation at injection site
- Restlessness
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Pros and cons of Ticovac
Pros
- The only vaccine available in the United States to prevent TBE
- Can be given to children as young as 1 year old
- Not made with natural rubber latex, so people with latex allergies are safe to get the vaccine
Cons
- Takes a long time to get fully vaccinated or complete the primary series (at least 6 months)
- Must be given by a healthcare provider as an injection into the muscle
- Available as brand-name only
Pharmacist tips for Ticovac
- If you're traveling, check whether getting vaccinated with Ticovac is recommended for your destination. If you need to get vaccinated, find a provider near you who can offer Ticovac.
- Make sure to keep a record of all your immunizations and show it to your provider or pharmacist before getting any vaccines, including Ticovac. This helps make sure you're getting all your vaccines on time.
- Scheduling vaccinations can be confusing so ask your provider or pharmacist to help you plan out when to get each Ticovac dose. Then, mark the dates on your calendar so you receive all your doses and finish the primary series on time. You need all three doses for this vaccine to work well, and it will take at least 6 months to finish the primary series.
- Don't get Ticovac if you're very sick. Wait until you recover first. But if you're sick with only mild symptoms, such as the common cold or a low-grade fever, you can still get vaccinated. Ask your provider if you're not sure whether or not you need to wait to get the vaccine.
- If you experience a severe reaction to Ticovac, you or your provider can report it to the vaccine adverse event reporting system (VAERS) by visiting their website or by calling 1-800-822-7967.
Common questions about Ticovac
Based on studies, Ticovac offers protection from the TBE virus for at least 3 years after you complete the primary series. If you expect that you'll continue to be exposed to or will be re-exposed to the TBE virus after 3 years, you can get a booster dose of Ticovac.
Contact your provider to find out where you can get Ticovac. This vaccine requires a prescription and is typically given at a specific provider's office, clinic, or pharmacy. You can also check the manufacturer's website to find a location near you that might have Ticovac available.
Ticovac isn't recommended as a routine vaccine in the United States and isn't for everyone. It's typically recommended if you're planning to visit areas with TBE virus around (typically within parts of Europe and Asia) under certain situations: when ticks are most active (April to November) or if you're planning to do outdoor activities in or near forested areas (such as hiking, camping, fishing, or birdwatching). If you aren't sure if you need to get Ticovac, ask your provider or pharmacist. You can also take this short quiz to see if you're at risk.
Ask your provider if you're not sure whether the tick-borne encephalitis vaccine (Ticovac) is necessary for you, especially if you're traveling to Europe or Asia. Ticovac lowers your risk for tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), a condition that's caused by the TBE virus and spread to humans from a bite of an infected tick. This condition can be mild without symptoms to potentially severe and life-threatening. Symptoms of TBE usually start with feeling sick or weak, having a fever or headache, or vomiting. But if the condition becomes severe, you can experience confusion, loss of coordination or balance, difficulty speaking, or even seizures a few days later. Ticovac might be helpful to prevent severe infection and possible hospitalization from complications of TBE.
No. Ticovac isn't a live vaccine because it doesn't contain live virus. This vaccine is made with inactivated (dead) TBE virus, which allows your body's immune system to respond by making proteins that attack the virus. This will help protect you from getting sick if you get infected with the virus in the future.
To complete the primary series of Ticovac and for the vaccine to work well, you'll need to get three shots spread out over at least 6 months. Planning out your vaccine doses can be confusing so ask your provider or pharmacist to help you schedule each of your Ticovac doses. It might be helpful to write down the dates of your vaccine appointments on your calendar so you remember to get all your doses on time.
When you're deciding on when you should get Ticovac, keep in mind that it takes at least 6 months to complete the 3-dose primary series. Additionally, the primary series needs to be completed at least 1 week before you travel to an area with the TBE virus around. This gives your immune system time to build up immunity to the TBE virus.
In clinical studies, about 99% of people who got three doses of Ticovac had antibodies against the TBE virus 3 weeks after the third vaccination. This means that complete vaccination with Ticovac works well to trigger your immune system to make antibodies that can help block the virus from making you sick when your body comes in contact with it.
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Risks and warnings for Ticovac
Ticovac can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Allergic reactions
As with any vaccine, there's a rare chance that you might have an allergic reaction to Ticovac. Your provider might ask you to stay at the clinic or office for a short period of time after you've been vaccinated to make sure you can get proper care in case of a serious allergic reaction.
Sometimes, these reactions can happen after you've already left the clinic. Get medical help right away if you notice symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as feeling faint, swelling of the face, closing of the throat, difficulty breathing, hives or rash, dizziness, or chest pain.
Decreased response to Ticovac in people with a weakened immune system
- Risk factors: Medical conditions that weaken the immune system | Taking medications that lower your immune system
Ticovac might not work as well in people with a weakened immune system. This can put you at higher risk for TBE, even after you've been vaccinated. Talk to your provider first before getting Ticovac if you have any medical conditions (e.g., human immunodeficiency virus or HIV, cancer) or take medications that weaken your immune system (e.g., high-dose corticosteroids, transplant medications).
Might not prevent TBE so need to take additional precautions
Just like all vaccines, Ticovac doesn't guarantee that you won't get infected with the TBE virus. For the best protection against TBE, you should get Ticovac as well as take all necessary precautions to avoid getting bit from an infected tick. A few ways include using insect repellent (e.g., those that contain DEET) and treat clothing with permethrin 0.5%. Additionally, check your body and clothes for ticks during and after outdoor activities. To avoid TBE from dairy products, don't eat or drink raw milk and cheese from goats, sheep, or cows in affected areas.
Risk of infection
Ticovac contains a small amount of albumin (a protein) that's sourced from human blood products. Because of this, there's a risk that the vaccine might contain viruses that can be transferred to you and make you sick.
However, your risk of infection is very low because the donors of these blood products are screened. Also, there are high manufacturing standards put into place to make sure the viruses are killed or removed.
To prevent serious infections in the rare case that your vaccine is affected, let your provider know right away if you start to feel sick, have symptoms such as feeling confused and anxious, or have trouble maintaining your balance.
Ticovac dosage
Package| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5ml prefilled syringe | 1 package | $323.82 | $323.82 |
| 0.25ml prefilled syringe | 1 package | $323.82 | $323.82 |
Typical dosage for Ticovac
Primary series (for people who haven't been vaccinated) - total of 3 doses
- Ages 1 to 15 years: The typical dose is 1 injection (0.25 mL) into the muscle. After the first dose, your child will need to get a second dose 1 to 3 months later. Then, the third dose will be 5 to 12 months after the second dose.
- Age 16 years and older: The typical dose is 1 injection (0.5 mL) into the muscle. After your first dose, get your second dose 14 days to 3 months later. Then, your third dose will be 5 to 12 months after the second dose.
Booster dose
- If you expect you'll have ongoing exposure or re-exposure to the TBE virus, you can get a booster dose (fourth dose) at least 3 years after finishing the primary series. Ask your provider if you need a booster dose.
