ACIP Recommends Pfizer’s TBE Vaccine For Individuals Most At Risk

The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recently recommended Pfizer’s tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) vaccine, TicoVac, to prevent TBE in individuals one year and older.

ACIP recommended the vaccine for individuals who travel or move to TBE endemic areas and have extensive exposure to ticks. Notably, providers should base the decision to vaccinate on an assessment of an individual’s planned activities and itinerary, risk factors for a poorer medical outcome, and personal perception and tolerance of risk.

“Today’s ACIP recommendation is an important update that offers clear guidance to healthcare providers regarding when a TBE vaccine should be recommended to prevent infection,” Nanette Cocero, PhD, global president of vaccines at Pfizer, said in the announcement.

“We are seeing that travel is opening back up. Those traveling to risk areas in Europe or Asia, whether for leisure or work, including military personnel, or those at risk of exposure to the TBE virus through laboratory work, are now able to have conversations with their healthcare providers about whether vaccination is the right option for them,” Cocero continued.

ACIP will forward its recommendations to the director of the CDC and HHS for review and approval. Once approved, the agencies will publish the recommendations in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

TBE is a viral infection of the brain and spine transmitted to humans through an infected tick bite. There is currently no cure or specific treatment for TBE, but symptom management is possible.

In August 2021, FDA approved TicoVac to prevent TBE in individuals one year and older. Currently, TicoVac is the only FDA-approved vaccine to protect both children and adults against the TBE virus.

In clinical trials, researchers assessed the safety and immunogenicity of TicoVac across two age groups: one year to 15 years of age and 16 years and older. In the studies, seropositive rates were 99.5 percent in the younger group and 98.7 to 100 percent in the older group following three doses.

Over 35 countries across Europe and Asia have identified TBE. So far, more than 170 million doses of the vaccine have been distributed since 1976.