Česky
4.3.2009
Public interest in tick-borne encephalitis vaccination continues to grow. Therefore, several large clinical trials evaluating this vaccination have been conducted in recent years. The studies have been carried out mainly with regard to the effectiveness of the vaccines available on our market.
Vaccination schedule
In 2008, vaccines from two manufacturers were on sale in Czech pharmacies: FSME Immuno Inject and the German vaccine Encepur. The substances are produced in two different variants, one for children and the other with a double dose for adults. Both follow similar vaccination schedules, albeit with minor differences. Both vaccines have been shown in trials to be highly effective in up to 98% of those vaccinated.
Encephalitis vaccination has a high efficacy
The vaccination is based on three doses given at different intervals, with high immunity to the disease occurring approximately fourteen days after the second dose. According to the test results, after the first dose there is approximately 50% protection against infection, and after the second dose the effectiveness is already around 93-98%. The third dose prolongs the effectiveness and increases it slightly. For many, subsequent protection is just under 100%. Although the first two doses have been shown to be sufficient to produce reliable protection, they are only a short-term solution of about one year. And it is definitely not recommended to skip the third dose.
In addition to the basic vaccination schedule, there is also a so-called accelerated schedule. This reduces the time between the first and second dose. Even with the accelerated vaccination schedule, the protection against infection has been shown to be highly effective and practically comparable to the conventional vaccination schedule.
It is important to know that regular re-vaccination after three (Encepur) to five (FSME) years must be carried out to maintain high efficacy in the long term. However, if you miss your vaccination date, don't panic. FSME vaccination has been shown to have relatively high levels of effective antibodies even after 6-8 years in tests. This period is shorter for Encepur. However, it is definitely not recommended to postpone vaccination for longer than the manufacturer's stated duration.
Vaccination in children
Childhood versions of vaccines have a lower antigen content. However, they are specifically tailored for administration to children. They have been shown in studies to produce equal if not better protection than the adult variant. In order to achieve optimal effect even in immunocompromised individuals and in persons over 60 years of age, in some cases a one-dose extension of the basic vaccination is recommended. Re-vaccination in these patients should occur every three years.
Source:
U Lékaře.cz
