Patient leaflet - TICOVAC JUNIOR 0.25 ML SUSPENSION FOR INJECTION IN A PRE-FILLED SYRINGE
1. what ticovac junior 0.25 ml is and what it is used 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-Bome 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:
- 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:
- have a bleeding disorder or bruise easily
- have an autoimmune disease (such as rheumatoid arthritis or multiple sclerosis)
- have a weak immune system (so that you or your child do not fight infections well)
- do not produce antibodies well
- take any medicine for cancer
- take medicines called corticosteroids (that reduce inflammation)
- have any brain illness
- have neurological disorders or seizure disorders.
The vaccine may not be suitable, if any of the circumstances above apply to you or your child. Alternatively, the doctor may give you or your child the vaccine. The doctor may request to do a blood test to check whether the vaccine has worked.
Other medicines and TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml
Tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you or your child are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. Your doctor will tell you if you or your child can have TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml at the same time as other vaccines. If you or your child have recently had another vaccine, your doctor will decide where and when to give the TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml vaccine.
TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml may not provide complete protection if you or your child are under an immunosuppressive treatment.
Tell your doctor if you or your child have ever been infected with, or been vaccinated against, Yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis or Dengue viruses. This is because you or your child may have antibodies in your blood that can react with the tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus used in tests to measure your antibody levels. These tests could then give wrong results.
Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before receiving this vaccine.
Your doctor will discuss with you the possible risks and benefits. The effect of TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml during pregnancy or while breast-feeding is not known. However, it may still be given if the risk of infection is high.
Driving and using machines
The vaccine is unlikely to affect a person being able to drive or use machines (play in the street or cycle). However, you may have problems with your sight or feel dizzy.
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”.
3. how to use 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.
- Swelling, hardness and redness where the injection was given
- Feeling sick or vomiting, decreased appetite
- Feeling tired or unwell
- Restlessness and poor sleep (in younger children)
- Muscle pains
- Fever(see above)
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
- Swelling of lymph glands
- Stomach pain
- Joint pain
- Chills
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
- Itching at the injection site
- Abnormal and reduced sensation such as tingling or numbness along several nerves
- Feeling dizzy
- Vertigo
- Diarrhoea
- Dyspepsia
- Hives
The following additional side effects, from post marketing surveillance with a rare frequency, have also been reported:
- Allergic reactions
- Inflammation of the brain, signs of meningeal irritation like stiffness of the neck
- Neurological symptoms such as facial palsy, paralysis, inflammation of nerves
- An illness consisting of muscle weakness, abnormal sensations, tingling in the arms, legs, and upper body (Guillain-Barre syndrome)
- Visual disorders/impairment being more sensitive to light, pain in the eye
- Ringing in the ears
- Shortness of breath
- Skin reactions, (rashy and/or itchy skin), redness of the skin, increased sweating
- Musculoskeletal and neck stiffness, pain in arm and legs
- Influenza-like illness, weakness, swelling of the skin, unsteady walking
- Fits with or without fever
In a small comparative study on the immune response after intramuscular and subcutaneous administration of TicoVac in healthy adults, the subcutaneous route led to higher local reactions at the injection site (e.g., redness, swelling, itching, and pain), particularly in women.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. how to store ticovac junior 0.25 ml
- Store in a refrigerator (2°C – 8°C). 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.
6. contents of the pack and other information
What TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml contains
The active substance is: Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus (strain Neudorfl)
One dose (0.25 milliliters) of the vaccine contains 1.2 micrograms of inactivated Tick-Bome Encephalitis Virus (strain Neudorfl), 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 without an attached needle. The pack may include 0 needles or 1 needle. Needles are sterile and for single use only. Pack sizes of 1,10, 20 or 100 prefilled 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,
Belgium
| This medicinal product is authorised in the Member States of the EEA under the following names: | |
| Belgie/Belgique/Belgien, Deutschland, Luxembourg/ Luxemburg, Nederland, Portugal | FSME-IMMUN 0,25 ml Junior |
| Btnrapnn, Polska | FSME-IMMUN 0.25 ml Junior |
| Ceska republika | FSME-IMMUN |
| Danmark, Suomi/Finland, Norge, Island, EAAaba, Kiinpoq | TicoVac Junior |
| Eesti | TicoVac 0.25 ml |
| Hrvatska | FSME-IMMUN 0,25 ml Junior, suspenzija za injekciju u napunjenoj strcaljki, cjepivo protiv krpeljnog encefalitisa, inaktivirano |
| Magyarorszag | FSME-IMMUN Junior vakcina fecskendoben |
| Osterreich | FSME-IMMUN 0.25 ml Junior Injektionssuspension in einer Fertigspritze |
| Malta | TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml Suspension for injection in pre-filled syringe |
| France | TicoVac Enfant 0.25 ml |
| Ireland, United Kingdom | TicoVac Junior 0.25 ml |
| Sverige | FSME-IMMUN Junior |
| Italia | TicoVac 0.25 ml per uso pediatrico |
| Latvija, Lietuva | TicoVac 0,25 ml |
| Romania | FSME-IMMUN 0.25 ml Junior suspensie injectabila in seringa preumpluta |
| Slovenija | FSME-IMMUN 0,25 ml zaotroke |
| Slovenska republika | FSME-IMMUN 0,25 ml Junior Injekcna suspenzia |
This leaflet was last revised 08/2020
Ref: Tl 14_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.
Any unused product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.
PAA157815