[Active immunization against tick-born encephalitis (TBE) among border guards (1993-2002)]

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Immunology
• Public Health

Context:

• The Polish Border Guard initiated a vaccination program against tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in 1993.
• Servicemen, particularly those in endemic regions and working with dogs, are at risk of TBE infection.
• The program has continued, involving thousands of personnel over several years.

Purpose:

• To present the experiences and outcomes of a long-term vaccination program against TBE.
• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of TBE vaccines in a specific occupational group.
• To assess the impact of immunization on TBE incidence within the Polish Border Guard.

Summary:

• From 1993 to 2001, 6,846 Polish Border Guard servicemen were vaccinated against TBE using FSME IMMUN and Encepur vaccines.
• Only one case of a mild Adverse Event Following Immunisation (AEFI), transient headache, was reported.
• No cases of TBE were diagnosed among the vaccinated servicemen, despite ongoing epidemiological risks.

Impact:

• The TBE vaccination program has demonstrated a favorable safety profile and appears effective in preventing TBE in Polish Border Guard servicemen.
• The findings support the continuation of active immunization strategies for occupational groups at high risk of TBE.
• This study contributes to the understanding of TBE vaccine effectiveness in a real-world, high-risk population.