Bundesamt für Gesundheit (BAG) und Eidgenössische Kommission für Impffragen (EKIF). Empfehlungen zur Impfung gegen Frühsommer-Meningoenzephalitis (FSME) [Recommendations for vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis (TBE)]. Accessed 26 April, 2024. https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/de/home/das-bag/organisation/ausserparlamentarische-kommissionen/eidgenoessische-kommission-fuer-impffragen-ekif/impfempfehlungen/grundlagendokumente.html
End of April 2024, new recommendations for TBE vaccination have been published by Swiss authorities.
The new recommendations are discussed here because they demonstrate new considerations and assessments about TBE and TBE vaccinations, and these new Swiss recommendations can be compared with those passed by other countries.
Beginning with summer 2024, the canton Genf is regarded as TBE risk area.
That means that all Swiss cantons are now risk areas with the only exception of the canton Ticino. TBE vaccination is recommended for all individuals living in or travelling to TBE endemic areas.
The pediatric TBE vaccines are licensed for children aged one year or older. So far, in Switzerland, the pediatric vaccines were recommended for children aged six years or older. Now, vaccination is recommended from three years onwards, and it is stated that children younger than three years may be vaccinated if there is an increased risk to acquire a TBE virus infection.
In contrast to other TBE endemic European countries like Austria and Germany, Swiss authorities recommend (since 2006) a 10-year booster interval after the primary vaccination, if the risk to acquire a TBE virus infection persists. This 10-year booster interval has been confirmed.