Ticks breeding not only in forests and meadows, but also in parks or gardens can be infected with a dangerous viral disease. Since the beginning of April, over 600 residents of the city have been given the opportunity to receive the first dose of tick-borne encephalitis vaccine for free. And already in autumn, only residents aged 50-55 will be able to do it for free.
A viral disease affecting the human brain, tick-borne encephalitis is usually transmitted to humans through tick inhalation.
Therefore, the Klaipėda Public Health Office together with the Klaipėda municipality encourages residents to get vaccinated.
“Vaccines for residents are financed by Klaipėda municipality. With this program, we aim to make residents pay more attention to the dangerous tick-borne disease, so we hope that the first free dose will encourage residents to start getting vaccinated, and later they will be able to independently complete the vaccination plan,” said Brigita Abartytė, Public Health Promotion Specialist of the Klaipėda Public Health Office.
Last year, according to the city health office, almost 570 residents were vaccinated with the first dose of the vaccine, and this year, according to B. Abartytė, it is planned to vaccinate 630 Klaipėda residents.
According to the specialist, according to the National Immunoprophylaxis Program, residents of the 50-55 age group will be able to get vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis free of charge from the beginning of autumn this year.
“In the registration held in April, there were no more places left for vaccinations on the first day, now in autumn, from September 1st, 50-55-year-olds from Klaipėda will be able to get vaccinated for free”, said B. Abartytė.
