Tick-borne encephalitis vaccine already purchased: free vaccination available from September
Good news of the health insurance funds in the European Immunisation Week – the National Health Insurance Fund under the Ministry of Health has purchased 72,600 doses of the Pfizer vaccine against tick-borne encephalitis. The purchase cost almost EUR 860,000 to the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund. From 1 September, the vaccine will be available free of charge to all people aged 50-55.
“This age group was chosen for tick-borne encephalitis vaccination for a reason. Research in Lithuania has shown that the average age of people with tick-borne encephalitis is 55 years. A large number of patients are unable to work after contracting the disease, which is why the vaccine is starting to be reimbursed for people of working age. Future decisions on extending the age limits for the group of people to be vaccinated free of charge against tick-borne encephalitis will be taken,” Lina Reinartienė, head of Centrally Procured Pharmaceuticals Division, says.
Tick-borne encephalitis affects the brain, its membranes or peripheral nerves, and is one of the most serious viral infections of central nervous system, with residual effects, sometimes even causing disability.
In Europe and Lithuania, tick-borne encephalitis is most commonly contracted by the bite of the Ixodes ricinus tick. This type of ticks is found in all the regions of Lithuania. Tick-borne encephalitis can also be contracted through the consumption of unpasteurized goat and cow milk and its products infected with the virus.
Both Lithuanian medical specialists and experts of the World Health Organization emphasize that vaccines are the most effective means of preventing tick-borne encephalitis. Patients with the disease are treated only symptomatically – with medications that reduce the symptoms of the disease. There is no specific treatment directed against the causative agent.
The routine vaccination schedule for tick-borne encephalitis involves a 1 to 3 month interval between the first and second doses, after which immunity builds up to fully protect a person from developing tick-borne encephalitis for one year. The third dose of the vaccine is prescribed after 5-12 months.
Thereafter, to maintain a protective level of immunity, the first maintenance dose should be administered 3 years after the third dose, with further maintenance doses administered every 5 years after the last maintenance dose.
Depending on the situation, for example, during the warm season when ticks are already active, an accelerated vaccination schedule may be used, with a 2-week interval between the first and second doses of vaccine. The third dose is given 5-12 months after the second dose. Thereafter, you should be re-vaccinated with one dose every three to five years. Reliable protection is only obtained after three doses of the vaccine have been administered, and protection may not be obtained without completing the vaccination (with both accelerated and routine vaccination schedules).
It is important to know that vaccine does not protect from tick-borne encephalitis if a tick bite before vaccination or within two weeks after the first dose. Vaccines guarantee protection two weeks after the second dose.
The NHIF pays for many vaccines to protect adults and children against contagious diseases from the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund. As many as 14 infectious diseases are vaccinated free of charge according to the Children’s Preventive Vaccination Calendar. Population at risk – against influenza, pneumococcal infection. People can also get reimbursed vaccinations against tetanus, diphtheria, measles, rabies.
Specialists of the health insurance funds remind that vaccines are the safest and the most reliable protection against life-threatening contagious diseases. This not only protects every individual, but also creates a safe environment for society. As part of the implementation of the National Programme for Immunoprophylaxis 2024-2028, it is planned to continue to increase vaccination coverage, to consider the inclusion of new vaccines in the calendar of preventive vaccinations for children, and to assess new at-risk groups that could be vaccinated at public expense.
For vaccinations reimbursed by health insurance funds, patients must go to their family doctor at the healthcare institution where they are registered.
Last updated: 17-05-2024
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