Tick bites from infected ticks in Europe and eleswhere can cause Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and Lyme disease.
Ticks are around between March and May and mid-August to November, so we’re about to come into a tick season soon.
They live in the countryside and love warm temperatures with high humidity. You will find them in eastern, central and northern Europe, Russia, Asia, and the Far East.
You can have a vaccination at VSM Pharmacy to protect you against Tick-borne encephalitis and it’s recommended if you intend to spend time in the countryside in a location where ticks are prevalent.
In Europe, it is rare that a tick bite will cause serious complications. The UK for example, has a low-risk assessment for the general population. But if you are travelling to somewhere like Asia a vaccine will protect you from the possibility of a severe illness or a fatality. Around 10% of people in Europe who suffer from a bite develop complications. In Asia, the risk is higher.
Tick-borne encephalitis is a viral infection. It affects the nervous system. As well as being transmitted from an infected tick bite you can also catch it from unpasteurised dairy products if the products come from an infected animal.
Some people don’t get symptoms at all. If you do get symptoms, then they will normally appear around seven days after a bite. The illness comes in two phases.
Phase one gives you flu-like symptoms you might have:
Usually, the symptoms will go away naturally, and you won’t suffer from any other illness. However, a few people may end up with serious symptoms that affect the central nervous system and spread to the brain.
These symptoms include:
The symptoms represent a medical emergency, and you should phone 999 or get the person to hospital immediately.
They feed off the blood of animals. They can’t jump or fly but they can climb on to a human from an animal if you brush past the animal.
Use tweezers or a tick removal tool (you can buy one from the pharmacy). Grip the tick as near to your skin as possible and then pull it upwards using a slow but firm movement. Be careful that you don’t crush or squeeze the tick.
When you have removed the tick, throw it away and clean your skin with warm water and antiseptic soap.
A full course of the vaccine is 3 doses. The first two injections will give you immunisation for a year. The third, booster dose will give you protection for 3 years. Currently (2024) the cost for each dose with VSM Pharmacy is £69.99. You must have the vaccination at least 4 weeks before you travel.
Yes. You can pop into the pharmacy, give us a call or make an appointment online. At the appointment we’ll ask you some questions about your travel plans to make sure you are getting the vaccination you need.
The flu is much more than ‘just a bad cold’ and can claim the lives of thousands of people each year, particularly the old and the vulnerable. Yet, by receiving an annual flu vaccine from our pharmacy, you greatly reduce your risk of getting ill.
If you go to certain countries you may need a Yellow Fever vaccination or a certificate to show that you have already had the vaccination.
Yellow Fever is a virus that comes from infected mosquitos and the best way to protect yourself is by having a vaccination.
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