TBE vaccination does not protect against Lyme disease-act as preventive!

TBE vaccination does not protect against Lyme disease-act as preventive!

Bayern, Deutschland - Vaccination against TBE (early summer meningoencephalitis) is often referred to as "tick vaccination". But although it offers important protection, it does not protect against all tick -handed diseases, especially not from Lyme disease. TBE is a potentially severe inflammation of the brain and the meninges, which is mainly transmitted by the Ixodes ricinus tick. This type of tick is widespread in Germany and can have a transmission rate of up to 5% in risk areas. In contrast, the rate of Borrelia in analyzed ticks is 25-30% [ OTS ].

After a tick bite, symptoms of TBE can occur after an incubation period of about 2 to 10 days. This includes flu -like symptoms such as fever, headache and fatigue. In about 5-30% of cases, serious neurological symptoms can occur, which can even be fatal in up to 1% of cases. The special thing about the TSME is that the virus transmission can take place immediately after the stinging [ OTS ].

Currently there is no vaccination protection against Lyme disease, but there is a new vaccination in the development phase. Another aspect of prevention is to search the body thoroughly after ticking and remove the ticks quickly to minimize the risk of infection. Recommended measures for tick removal include the use of tweezers or special instruments to pack the tick close to the skin surface [ Vivantes ].

vaccination recommendations and risk areas

The TBE vaccination is recommended for residents and travelers in risk areas such as Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Thuringia. The decline rate of the TBE has been the alarm in Germany for years. For example, 718 TBE cases were reported in 2020, with 98% of the sick not or inadequate vaccinated. In Germany, 183 TBE risk areas are currently listed, and an annual map of the Robert Koch Institute provides information about current developments [ vacf-info ].

The complete vaccination against TBE takes place in three steps: The second vaccination takes place 2-12 weeks after the first and the third vaccination 5-12 months after the second. The vaccination protection lasts at least three years. However, accident vaccinations do not make sense, since effective protection is only given after two partial vaccinations. The costs of vaccination are covered by the health insurance companies when people come from endemic areas or travel there [ Vivantes ].