Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
The electronic medicines compendium (emc) no longer publishes a Summary of Product Characteristics for this product, which usually means it is no longer marketed in the UK. The patient leaflet below is kept for reference, but the product may not be available.
If you were prescribed this medicine, other products containing Tick borne encephalitis virus may still be available. Do not stop your treatment — ask your pharmacist or GP what to use instead.
for TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml is a vaccine, which is used to prevent disease caused by Tick-Borne Encephalitis (TBE) Virus. It is suitable for children above 1 to 15 years of age. • •
The vaccine causes the body to make its own protection (antibodies) against the virus. It will not protect against other viruses and bacteria (some of which are also transmitted by tick bites) that may cause similar symptoms.
The Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus can cause very serious infections of the brain or the spine and its covering. These often start with headache and high temperature. In some people and in the most severe forms, they can progress to loss of consciousness, coma and death. The virus can be carried by ticks. It is passed on to man by tick bites. The chance of being bitten by ticks that carry the virus is very high in large parts of Europe as well as Central and Eastern Asia. People who live in or go to holidays in these parts of the world are at risk of contracting tick-borne encephalitis. The ticks are not always spotted on the skin and the bites may not be noticed. • • • •
Like all vaccines, this vaccine may not completely protect everyone who is vaccinated. A single dose of the vaccine is not likely to protect you or your child against infection. You or your child need 3 doses (see section 3 for more information) to achieve an optimal protection. The protection does not last for life. Regular booster doses are needed (see section 3 for more information) There is no data on post exposure prophylaxis (vaccination after tick bite)
2. What you need to know before you or your child receives TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml Do not use TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml:
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•
• •
If you or your child is allergic to the active substance, any of the other ingredients (listed in section 6), formaldehyde or protamine sulfate (used during the manufacturing process) or antibiotics such as neomycin and gentamycin. For example, you or your child have had skin rash, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty in breathing, blue discolouring of the tongue or lips, low blood pressure and have collapsed. If you or your child ever had a severe allergic reaction after eating egg or chicken. If you or your child has an acute illness with or without fever you or your child may have to wait before having TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml. Your doctor could ask you or your child to wait for the injection until you or your child feel better.
Warning and precautions Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before receiving the vaccine if you or your child:
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TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml contains potassium and sodium Potassium and sodium are present at levels less than 1 mmol per dose, i.e. essentially "potassium- and sodium-free".
TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml This vaccine is usually injected into the muscle of the upper arm. In children under 18 months the vaccine can be injected into the thigh. It must not be injected into a blood vessel. In exceptional cases only (if you or your child have a bleeding disorder or are receiving medication to thin the blood, called an anticoagulant), the vaccine may be administered under the skin (subcutaneously). This vaccine should not be given to persons aged 16 years and above. For this age group the TBE vaccine for adults is recommended. The administration of the vaccine should be documented by the physician, and the lot number recorded. First course of injections The first course of injections consists of three doses of TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml: 1. Your doctor will decide when to give the first injection. 2. The second injection will be given 1 to 3 months later. It can be given two weeks after the first dose if you need urgent protection. 3. The third injection will be given 5 to 12 months after the second injection. • • • •
It is best to have the first and second doses in the winter. This is because the tick starts being active in spring. This allows you to develop enough protection before the tick season starts. The third dose completes the primary course of injections. The vaccination schedule should ideally be completed with the third vaccination within the same tick season or at the least before the start of the following tick season. It gives protection for up to three years. If you leave too much time between the 3 doses, you may not have full protection against infection.
Basic Immunisation
Dose
Conventional Schedule
Rapid Immunisation Schedule
1st dose
0.25 ml
Elected date
Elected date
2nd dose
0.25 ml
1 to 3 months after the 1st vaccination
14 days after the 1st vaccination
3rd dose
0.25 ml
5 to 12 months after the 2nd vaccination
5 to 12 months after the 2nd vaccination
Booster vaccinations The first booster dose should be given 3 years after the third dose. Further booster doses should be given every 5 years. Booster dose
Dose
Timing
1st booster
0.25 ml
3 years after the third dose
Sequential booster doses
0.25 ml
every 5 years
If you leave too much time between vaccine doses, you may not be protected against TBE, however, a single catch-up dose with TicoVac is sufficient to continue the vaccination schedule if you received at Page 3 of 8
least two vaccinations in the past. Restarting the entire first course of vaccinations is not required. Ask your doctor for more information. No data are available regarding a catch-up dose in children less than 6 years of age. Children with impaired immune system (including immunosuppressive therapy) Your doctor may consider determining the antibodies in your blood at four weeks after the second dose and administer an additional dose if there is no evidence of immune response at this time. The same applies to any of the following doses. If you use more TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml than you should An overdose is highly unlikely to happen because the injection is given from a single-dose syringe by a doctor. If you have any further questions on the use of this vaccine, ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
4. Possible side effects Like all medicines, this vaccine may cause side effects although not everybody gets them. If any of the
get serious or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist. As with all vaccines, severe allergic reactions can happen. They are very rare, but the right medical treatment and supervision must always be readily available. Symptoms of serious allergic reactions include:
• • • •
Swelling of lymph glands Stomach pain Joint pain Chills
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml • • • •
Store in a refrigerator (2C – 8C). Keep the syringe in the outer carton, in order to protect from light. Do not freeze. Do not use this vaccine if you notice any visible signs of foreign particulate matter or leakage. Keep this vaccine out of the sight and reach of children. Do not use this vaccine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month. Do not throw away any vaccines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away vaccines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
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What TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml contains The active substance is: Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus (strain Neudörfl) One dose (0.25 milliliters) of the vaccine contains 1.2 micrograms of inactivated Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus (strain Neudörfl), which is produced in chick embryo cells. The other ingredients are: human albumin, sodium chloride, disodium phosphate-dihydrate, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, sucrose and water for injections. Aluminum hydroxide (hydrated) is included in this vaccine as an adsorbent. Adsorbents are substances included in certain vaccines to accelerate, improve and/or prolong the protective effects of the vaccine. What TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml looks like and contents of the pack TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml is supplied as a 0.25 milliliter (one dose) suspension for injection in a pre-filled syringe. The pack may include no needles or 1 separate needle per syringe. Needles are sterile and for single use only. Pack sizes of 1 and 10 pre-filled syringes are available. Not all pack sizes may be marketed. After shaking, the suspension is off-white and milky. Each pre-filled syringe is packed in a blister. The opening in the blister seal is intended and allows for the equilibration of moisture during the recommended warm-up prior to the administration of the vaccine. Open the blister by removing the lid to take out the syringe. Do not press the syringe through the blister. Marketing Authorisation Holder: Pfizer Limited Ramsgate Road Sandwich Kent CT13 9NJ United Kingdom Manufacturer: Pfizer Manufacturing Belgium NV Rijksweg 12 2870 Puurs-Sint-Amands Belgium This medicine is authorised in the Member States of the European Economic Area and in the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) under the following names: België/Belgique/Belgien, Deutschland, Luxembourg/Luxemburg, Nederland, Polska, Portugal
FSME-IMMUN 0,25 ml Junior
България
FSME-IMMUN 0.25 ml Junior
Česká republika
FSME-IMMUN
Danmark, Suomi/Finland, Norge, Ísland, Ελλάδα, Κύπρος
TicoVac Junior
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Eesti
TicoVac 0.25 ml
Hrvatska
FSME-IMMUN 0,25 ml Junior, suspenzija za injekciju u napunjenoj štrcaljki, cjepivo protiv krpeljnog encefalitisa, inaktivirano
Magyarország
FSME-IMMUN Junior vakcina fecskendőben
Malta
TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml Suspension for injection in pre-filled syringe
Österreich
FSME-IMMUN 0.25 ml Junior Injektionssuspension in einer Fertigspritze
France
TicoVac Enfant 0.25 ml
Ireland, United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)
TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml
Sverige
FSME-IMMUN Junior
Italia
TicoVac 0.25 ml per uso pediatrico
Latvija, Lietuva
TicoVac 0,25 ml
România
FSME-IMMUN 0.25 ml Junior suspensie injectabila in seringa preumpluta
Slovenija
FSME-IMMUN 0,25 ml za otroke
Slovenská republika
FSME-IMMUN 0,25 ml Junior Injekčná suspenzia
This leaflet was last revised 04/2024 Ref: TI 16_0 —————————————————————————————————————————–
The following information is intended for medical or healthcare professionals only: The vaccine should reach room temperature before administration. Shake well prior to administration to thoroughly mix the vaccine suspension. After shaking, TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml is an off-white, opalescent, homogeneous suspension. The vaccine should be inspected visually for any foreign particulate matter and/or variation in physical appearance prior to administration. In the event of either being observed, discard the vaccine. After removing the syringe cap, attach the needle immediately and remove the needle shield prior to administration. Once the needle is attached, the vaccine must be administered immediately. In the exceptional cases of subcutaneous administration, an appropriate needle should be used.
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Any unused product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.
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TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml Suspension for injection in a pre-filled syringe comes as oral solution containing 0.25ml. Always follow the dose your doctor or pharmacist has given you, and read the leaflet that comes with the medicine.
The active substance in TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml Suspension for injection in a pre-filled syringe is tick borne encephalitis virus.
This leaflet reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml Suspension for injection in a pre-filled syringe, as published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). The version printed inside your medicine’s packaging is the one that applies to you.
Whether a medicine is available over the counter or on prescription only depends on its licence. Check the leaflet, or ask your pharmacist — they can tell you straight away.
The text above reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for this medicine, restructured for easier reading.
TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml is indicated for the active (prophylactic) immunization of children aged from 1 year to 15 years against tick-borne encephalitis (TBE).
TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml is to be given on the basis of official recommendations regarding the need for, and timing of, vaccination against TBE.
Posology
Primary vaccination schedule
The primary vaccination schedule is the same for all persons from 1 year to 15 years of age and consists of three doses of TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml.
The first and second dose should be given at a 1 to 3 month interval.
If there is a need to achieve an immune response rapidly, the second dose may be given two weeks after the first dose. After the first two doses a sufficient protection for the ongoing tick season is to be expected (see section 5.1).
The third dose should be given 5 to 12 months after the second vaccination. After the third dose protection is expected to last for at least 3 years.
To achieve immunity before the beginning of the seasonal tick activity, which is in spring, the first and second doses should preferably be given in the winter months. The vaccination schedule should ideally be completed with the third vaccination within the same tick season or at the least before the start of the following tick season.
Basic Immunization
Dose
Conventional Schedule
Rapid Immunization Schedule
1st dose
0.25 ml
Elected date
Elected date
2nd dose
0.25 ml
1 to 3 months after the 1st vaccination
14 days after the 1st vaccination
3rd dose
0.25 ml
5 to 12 months after the 2nd vaccination
5 to 12 months after the 2nd vaccination
Booster doses
The first booster dose should be given 3 years after the third dose (see section 5.1).
Sequential booster doses should be given every 5 years after the last booster dose.
Booster dose
Dose
Timing
1st booster
0.25 ml
3 years after the 3rd vaccination
Sequential booster doses
0.25 ml
every 5 years
Extending the interval between any of the doses (primary vaccination schedule and booster doses) may leave subjects with inadequate protection against infection (see section 5.1).
However, in the case of an interrupted vaccination schedule of at least two previous vaccinations, a single catch-up dose is sufficient to continue the vaccination schedule (see section 5.1).
No data regarding catch-up dose in children less than 6 years of age are available (see section 5.1).
Children with an impaired immune system (including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy)
There are no specific clinical data on which to base dose recommendations. However, consideration may be given to determining the antibody concentration at four weeks after the second dose and administering an additional dose if there is no evidence of seroconversion at this time. The same applies to any of the following doses.
Method of administration
The vaccine should be given by intramuscular injection into the upper arm (deltoid muscle).
In children up to 18 months of age, or dependent on a child's development and nutrition status, the vaccine is administered into the thigh muscle (vastus lateralis muscle).
In exceptional cases only (in subjects with a bleeding disorder or in subjects receiving prophylactic anticoagulation), the vaccine may be administered subcutaneously (see sections 4.4 and 4.8).
Care must be taken to avoid accidental intravascular administration (see section 4.4).
Hypersensitivity to the active substance, any of the excipients listed in section 6.1, or production residues (formaldehyde, neomycin, gentamycin, protamine sulfate). Cross allergies with aminoglycosides other than neomycin and gentamycin should be considered.
Severe hypersensitivity to egg and chick proteins (anaphylactic reaction after oral ingestion of egg protein) may cause severe allergic reactions in sensitized individuals (see also section 4.4).
TBE vaccination should be postponed if the person is suffering from a moderate or severe acute illness (with or without fever).
As with all vaccines that are administered by injection, appropriate emergency treatment and supervision should always be readily available in case of a rare anaphylactic event following the administration of the vaccine.
Non-severe allergy to egg protein does not usually constitute a contraindication to vaccination with TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml. Nevertheless, such persons should only be vaccinated under appropriate supervision and facilities for emergency management of hypersensitivity reactions should be available.
The levels of potassium and sodium are at less than 1 mmol per dose, i.e., essentially “potassium and sodium-free”.
Intravascular administration must be avoided as this might lead to severe reactions, including hypersensitivity reactions with shock.
The recommended route of administration is intramuscular. However, this may not be appropriate in subjects with a bleeding disorder or subjects receiving prophylactic anticoagulation. Limited data in healthy adults suggest comparable immune response for subcutaneous booster vaccinations when compared to intramuscular booster vaccinations. However, subcutaneous administration might lead to an increased risk for local adverse reactions. No data are available for children/adolescents. Furthermore, no data are available for primary immunisation via the subcutaneous route.
Fever may occur in children after the first immunization in particular in the very young (see section 4.8). In general, the fever subsides within 24 hours. Fever rates reported after the second vaccination are generally lower as compared to the fever rates after the first vaccination. In children with a history of fever convulsions or high fever following vaccinations, antipyretic prophylaxis or treatment may be considered.
A protective immune response may not be elicited in persons undergoing immunosuppressive therapy.
Whenever serological testing is considered necessary in order to determine the need for sequential doses, assays should be performed in an experienced, qualified laboratory. This is because cross reactivity with pre-existing antibodies due to natural exposure or previous vaccination against other flaviviruses (e.g. Japanese encephalitis, Yellow fever, Dengue virus) may give false positive results.
In case of a known or suspected auto-immune disease in the intended recipient, the risk of TBE infection must be weighed against the risk that TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml might have an adverse effect on the course of the auto-immune disease.
Caution is required when considering the need for vaccination in children with pre-existing cerebral disorders such as active demyelinating disorders or poorly controlled epilepsy.
There is no data concerning post exposure prophylaxis with TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml.
As with all vaccines, TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml may not completely protect all vaccinees against the infection that it is intended to prevent. For details on product administration in persons with impaired immune system and persons undergoing immunosuppressive therapy please see section 4.2.
Tick bites may transmit infections other than TBE, including certain pathogens that can sometimes cause a clinical picture that resembles tick-borne encephalitis. TBE vaccines do not provide protection against Borrelia infection. Therefore, the appearance of clinical signs and symptoms of possible TBE infections in a vaccinee should be thoroughly investigated for the possibility of alternative causes.
No interaction studies with other vaccines or medicinal products have been performed. The administration of other vaccines at the same time as TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml should be performed only in accordance with official recommendations. If other injectable vaccines are to be given at the same time, administrations should be into separate sites and, preferably, into separate limbs.
Pregnancy
There are no data from the use of TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml in pregnant women.
Breast-feeding
It is unknown whether TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml is excreted in human milk.
Therefore, TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml should only be administered during pregnancy and to breastfeeding women when it is considered urgent to achieve protection against TBE infection and after careful consideration of the risk-benefit relationship.
TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml is unlikely to affect a child's motor skills (e.g., when playing in the street or cycling) or a person's ability to drive and use machines. It should be taken into account, however, that impaired vision or dizziness may occur.
The calculated frequencies are based on a pooled analysis of adverse reactions reported after the 1st vaccination (3088 subjects) from 8 clinical studies conducted with TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml (1.2 µg) in subjects aged 1-15 years of age. Rates of systemic adverse reactions observed after the 2nd and 3rd vaccination were lower than after the 1st vaccination. Comparable rates of injection site reactions are observed after the first, second and third vaccination.
The following other undesirable effects listed in this Section are given according to the recommended frequency convention:
Adverse Reactions from clinical trials
System organ class
Frequency
Very common
(≥1/10)
Common
(≥1/100 to <1/10)
Uncommon
(≥1/1,000 to <1/100)
Rare
(≥1/10,000 to <1/1,000)
Blood and lymphatic system disorders
Lymphadenopathy
Metabolism and nutrition disorders
Decreased Appetite
Psychiatric disorders
Restlessness1, Sleeping disorder
Nervous system disorders
Headache
Sensory abnormalities,
Dizziness
Ear and labyrinth disorders
Vertigo
Gastrointestinal disorders
Nausea,Vomiting
Abdominal pain
Diarrhoea,
Dyspepsia
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
Urticaria
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Myalgia
Arthralgia
General disorders and administration site conditions
Injection site reactions2 e.g.,
Injection site pain
Pyrexia3,
Fatigue, Malaise4
Injection site reactions such as
• Swelling
• Induration
• Erythema
Chills
Injection site pruritus
1 Frequency is estimated based on data from children aged 1-5 years
2 A subject may have experienced more than 1 event.
3 Fevers occurred more frequently in younger than in older children (i.e., Very common to Common, respectively). Fever rates after the second and third vaccinations are generally lower than after the first vaccination.
4 Frequency is estimated based on data from children aged 6 - 15 years.
Fever was measured rectally in children up to at least 3 years of age and orally in children 3 years of age and older. The analysis includes any fever temporally associated with vaccination whether or not causally related.
Fever is age dependent and is decreasing with the number of vaccinations.
In a safety study and dose finding studies the fever rates observed after the first vaccination were as follows:
1 to 2 year olds (n=262): mild fever (38-39°C) in 27.9%; moderate fever (39.1-40.0°C) in 3.4%; no severe fever (>40°C). 3 to 15 year olds (n=2519): mild fever in 6.8%; moderate fever in 0.6%; no severe fever (>40°C).
Fever rates reported after the second vaccination are generally lower as compared to the fever rates after the first vaccination: 15.6% (41/263) in 1 to 2 year old children and 1.9% (49/2522) in 3 to 15 year old children.
Adverse reactions from post-marketing surveillance
The following additional adverse reactions have been reported in post-marketing experience.
System organ class
Frequency*
Rare (≥1/10,000 to <1/1,000)
Immune system disorders
Anaphylactic reaction, hypersensitivity
Nervous system disorders
Encephalitis, convulsion (including febrile), meningism, polyneuropathy, motor dysfunction (hemiparesis/hemiplegia facial paresis, paralysis/paresis, neuritis), Guillain-Barré syndrome
Eye disorders
Visual impairment, photophobia, eye pain
Ear and labyrinth disorders
Tinnitus
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
Dyspnea
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
Rash (erythematous, maculopapular, vesicular), erythema, pruritus, hyperhidrosis
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Neck pain, musculoskeletal stiffness (including neck stiffness), pain in extremity
General disorders and administration site conditions
Gait disturbance, influenza-like illness, asthenia, edema
* The upper limit of the 95% confidence interval of the event frequency is calculated with 3/n, with n representing the number of subjects included in all clinical trials with TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml. Therefore, the calculated frequency “rare” represents the theoretical maximum frequency for these events
In a small comparative study on the immune response after intramuscular and subcutaneous administration of FSME-IMMUN in healthy adults, the subcutaneous route led to a higher local reactogenicity profile, particularly in women. No data are available in children.
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
There are reports of children receiving the adult formulation. It is conceivable that the risk of adverse reactions is increased in such cases.
Ask anything about TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml Suspension for injection in a pre-filled syringe. The assistant answers only from this leaflet — if the leaflet does not cover it, it will say so. It does not give medical advice.
Answers come from the patient leaflet published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). They are not medical advice. Ask a pharmacist or your GP if you are unsure. For urgent help call NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency.
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