Can you get vaccinated against tick diseases?

If you have been bitten by a tick in the Netherlands, you run the risk of contracting Lyme disease. The disease brings various complaints and can even have deadly consequences in rare cases. Vaccination against Lyme disease would therefore be ideal, but unfortunately, it is not possible to get vaccinated against Lyme disease. However, there are other tick diseases for which a vaccine is available.

Vaccination FSME/Tick-borne Encephalitis

Tick-borne encephalitis is a viral infection that can cause brain inflammation. The disease has different names: FSME, RSSE, and TBE. You can contract this disease through a tick bite, but it does not occur in the Netherlands. Ticks that carry this virus are mainly found from March to November in forested areas. If you plan to travel to such an area during this period, it is recommended to get a tick vaccination.

The vaccination for FSME or tick-borne encephalitis consists of three injections, with intervals of one month and five months. However, there is also an accelerated schedule, where you receive the second injection two weeks after the first. You are partially protected against a tick bite after two injections. It is best to start the injections six months before departure, but it can also be three weeks before departure. You are protected against tick-borne encephalitis for a total of three years if you have had all three injections.