Tick-borne Encephalitis Vaccination (TicoVac / TicoVac Junior)

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) vaccination with TicoVac is a private pharmacist service at Ways Pharmacy in Holborn, London. TBE is a viral infection of the brain spread mainly by tick bites in forested and rural areas of central, eastern and northern Europe and parts of Asia, mostly during the tick season. Vaccination may be recommended if you will be walking, camping, working or staying in risk areas. It is given only after a pharmacist has assessed your plans and health and confirmed it is suitable for you.

How to get this vaccine

1. Start your free online assessment. Answer the health and travel questions online and confirm your identity by uploading photo ID or showing it on a video call.
2. Pharmacist reviews and speaks with you. A GPhC-registered pharmacist reviews your itinerary, health, medicines and previous vaccines and checks that the vaccine is suitable for you.
3. If suitable, pay and book. Choose the number of doses and check out on this page, or call 020 8106 7084 to book. Please call before you visit so we can confirm the vaccine is in stock and agree a time. If the vaccine is not suitable, you pay nothing and the pharmacist explains your other options.
4. Vaccinated at our Holborn pharmacy. The pharmacist confirms the vaccine is still suitable on the day. The injection is given in the pharmacy, followed by a short observation period. Children attend with a parent or guardian. Your next doses are booked at the same visit.
5. Refunds. If you have already paid and the pharmacist decides the vaccine is not suitable for you, you receive a full refund. If you paid for a multi-dose course and do not receive every dose, each dose you did not receive is refunded at the single-dose price.

There is no separate consultation fee. This vaccine is given only in our Holborn pharmacy and cannot be posted.

About this vaccine

Vaccination schedule

• Standard schedule: dose 1 on day 0, dose 2 one to three months later, dose 3 five to twelve months after dose 2
• Rapid schedule when protection is needed sooner: dose 1 on day 0, dose 2 on day 14, dose 3 five to twelve months after dose 2
• Have the first two doses before you could be exposed wherever possible; after two doses, protection for the coming season can generally be expected
• Boosters for people still at risk: the first 3 years after dose 3, then every 5 years under age 60, or every 3 years from age 60
• Children aged 1–15 have TicoVac Junior; the pharmacist chooses the right vaccine and dose for the traveller's age

Choose 1 dose for a booster or to continue a course started elsewhere, 2 doses for protection this season, or the full course of 3.

Warnings and who should not have this vaccine

• Children under 1
• Anyone allergic to the vaccine or any of its ingredients, or who had a severe reaction to a previous TBE vaccine
• Anyone with a severe allergy to egg or chicken protein
• Anyone with a high temperature or acute illness on the day — vaccination is postponed until you recover
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding, a weakened immune system or immunosuppressive treatment, a bleeding disorder or anticoagulant treatment, a milder egg allergy, a previous vaccine reaction or an interrupted earlier course need individual assessment — tell the pharmacist

The vaccine does not protect against other tick-borne infections such as Lyme disease. Use insect repellent, wear long sleeves and trousers in woodland and check for ticks every day.

Possible side effects

Common side effects are pain, redness or swelling where the injection was given, headache, tiredness, feeling generally unwell, aching muscles or joints and nausea. Fever is more common in young children. Get emergency help straight away if you develop difficulty breathing or swelling of the face or throat.

See all vaccines and prices on our travel vaccinations in Holborn page.

Regulatory information

• Legal status: Prescription-only medicine (POM), supplied and administered under a Patient Group Direction after pharmacist assessment
• Pharmacy: Ways Pharmacy, 77 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4ET · GPhC-registered premises 9012227 · Monday to Friday, 9:00am–6:00pm
• Patient information leaflet: electronic Medicines Compendium (emc)
• Report suspected side effects through the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme

This page gives factual information about a prescription-only vaccine and is not an advertisement to the public. It is given only after a pharmacist has assessed that it is suitable for you.