Tick-Borne Encephalitis (TBE) Vaccine in Sutton
Private tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) vaccination in Sutton with TicoVac, £75 a dose. Who needs it, where the risk is, the standard and accelerated schedules, and how to protect yourself before travel.
Private tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) vaccination in Sutton with TicoVac, £75 a dose. We explain who needs it, where the risk is, the standard and accelerated schedules, and how to get protected before you travel. Book online or call 020 8643 6787 to check current availability.
If your summer or autumn plans involve hiking, camping or time in the countryside across Europe or parts of Asia, tick-borne encephalitis is worth understanding before you go. It is a serious infection of the brain and nervous system, there is no treatment once you have it, and the areas where it circulates include some of the most popular walking and outdoor holiday destinations. The reassuring part is that a vaccine gives good protection, and we can arrange it for you here in Sutton.
At Gaiger Pharmacy on 296 High Street, we have looked after the Sutton community for more than 20 years. We provide private TBE vaccination with TicoVac for travellers heading to at-risk regions, and our pharmacist will talk you through whether you need it, how many doses you have time for, and how to reduce your risk while you are away. You can book through our travel clinic online or call us on 020 8643 6787.
A quick note on supply. TicoVac has been in short supply across the UK during 2026, so availability can change week to week. Please call us to check current stock before you rely on an appointment, and if you are travelling soon, get in touch as early as you can. This guide covers what TBE is, who is most at risk, where the risk areas are, the vaccine schedules including the faster option for last-minute trips, pricing, and how to protect yourself against tick bites as well.
What tick-borne encephalitis is
Tick-borne encephalitis is a viral infection that affects the brain and central nervous system. It is caused by the TBE virus, part of the same family as yellow fever and Japanese encephalitis, and it is spread mainly through the bite of an infected tick. Less commonly, it can be caught by drinking unpasteurised milk or eating dairy products from infected animals in endemic areas.
The illness often runs in two stages. The first is flu-like, with fever, headache, tiredness and muscle aches, and lasts around a week. Many people recover fully at this point. In around a third of people who develop symptoms, though, the infection moves to a second, neurological stage that can cause meningitis, encephalitis or inflammation of the spinal cord. That stage can lead to lasting nerve damage, paralysis, problems with coordination, and in some cases death.
There is no specific treatment for TBE. Care is supportive only, which means managing the symptoms while the body fights the virus. That is the key reason prevention matters so much: once you are infected, there is no antiviral that clears it.
Who is most at risk, and who should consider the vaccine
TBE risk is about where you go and what you do, rather than who you are. The vaccine is recommended for travellers whose plans put them in contact with ticks in areas where the virus circulates, particularly during the active tick season from April to October.
You should consider TBE vaccination if your trip involves:
- Hiking, trekking, camping, cycling or running in or near forests
- Hunting, fishing or orienteering in rural areas of endemic regions
- Outdoor fieldwork, forestry or farming in at-risk countries
- Any regular outdoor activity in endemic areas between April and October
- Longer stays or living in an endemic region
Vaccination is usually not needed if you are only visiting cities, staying away from forests and grassland, or travelling outside the active tick season. If you are not sure where your trip sits, our pharmacist can help you weigh it up. We look at outdoor travellers in more detail in our guide to the TBE vaccine for hikers and campers.
Where is the risk? TBE countries and regions
TBE is found across a broad band of Europe and Asia, and it includes many popular holiday destinations. The risk is highest in forested and rural areas, and lower in major cities and places away from woodland and grassland.
Higher-risk areas include much of central and eastern Europe, such as Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland and the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, along with parts of the Balkans. In northern Europe, certain areas of Sweden, Finland and Norway carry a risk. In Asia, the virus circulates in parts of Russia, particularly Siberia and the Far East, as well as areas of China, Japan, South Korea, Mongolia and Kazakhstan.
Because the picture varies from region to region and even within a country, it is worth checking your specific destination and itinerary. We break this down in our guide to which countries need the TBE vaccine.
The vaccine we use: TicoVac
At Gaiger Pharmacy we vaccinate against TBE with TicoVac, made by Pfizer. It comes in two formulations: the standard TicoVac for adults and children aged 16 and over, and TicoVac Junior for children aged 1 to 15, which is a lower dose. The vaccine is given as an injection into the upper arm.
TicoVac works by exposing your immune system to an inactivated form of the TBE virus, so your body learns to recognise and fight it. It does not contain live virus, so it cannot give you TBE. Most people need a course of three doses for full, longer-lasting protection, although good protection is reached after the second dose, which matters when time is short before travel.
The schedule: standard and accelerated
There are two ways to take the course, depending on how much time you have before you travel.
The standard schedule for adults is three doses. The second dose follows the first by one to three months, and the third comes five to twelve months after the second. Completing all three gives around three years of protection, after which a booster is recommended for people who remain at risk.
The accelerated schedule is for adults aged 16 and over who are short on time. Here the second dose is given just two weeks after the first, and good protection follows about two weeks after that second dose. You should still have the third dose five to twelve months later to complete the course and get the longer-lasting protection. We explain this option fully in our guide to the last-minute TBE vaccine.
Whichever route you take, the primary course should be completed at least one week before you could be exposed. There is more detail on timing, doses and boosters in our TBE vaccine schedule guide.
Getting it in Sutton, with no GP wait
People come to us rather than going through their GP because it is quick and convenient. There is no referral and no waiting list. You book an appointment through our travel clinic, come in, and our pharmacist gives the vaccine after checking your travel plans and medical history. For a course that needs planning around a departure date, that flexibility helps.
We are based at 296 High Street in Sutton, easy to reach from across the borough and the wider Greater London and Surrey area. If you are booking a walking or camping trip to Europe, it is worth speaking to us early so we can map the doses to your travel dates and check stock for you.
Pricing
The TBE vaccine is £75 a dose at Gaiger Pharmacy. The standard course is three doses. Our pharmacist will confirm how many doses you need for your trip and the total before you commit to anything, and there is no obligation to book the whole course at once.
- TBE vaccine (TicoVac): £75 a dose
- Standard course: three doses
- Accelerated two-dose option available for adults short on time before travel
- Our pharmacist confirms your schedule and total up front
Tick-bite prevention: protect yourself as well as vaccinate
Vaccination is the strongest single step, but it does not replace sensible precautions, and it is worth pairing the two. Wherever you are walking in tick country, you can lower your risk by taking a few simple measures.
- Wear long sleeves and long trousers, and tuck trousers into socks in dense vegetation
- Use an insect repellent containing DEET on exposed skin
- Consider treating clothing with permethrin
- Check your whole body for ticks each day, paying attention to the hairline, ears, armpits, groin and behind the knees
- Remove any tick promptly with a tick-removal tool or fine-tipped tweezers, gripping close to the skin and pulling straight out without twisting
- Avoid unpasteurised milk and dairy products in endemic areas
It is also worth knowing that TBE and Lyme disease are different illnesses. Both are spread by ticks, but they are caused by different organisms, and while the TBE vaccine protects against TBE, there is currently no vaccine for Lyme disease. Good tick-bite prevention helps reduce the risk of both.
Side effects and safety
TicoVac has a well-established safety record, and because it contains no live virus, it cannot give you TBE. As with any vaccine, side effects can happen, and most are mild and short-lived.
The most common effects in adults are tenderness or pain where the injection was given, along with headache, tiredness, muscle aches, fever and sometimes nausea. These usually settle within a day or two. In children, local tenderness and a raised temperature are the most commonly reported effects. Serious allergic reactions are rare, and our pharmacist will go through your medical history with you before vaccinating and ask you to wait for a short while afterwards.
Booking your TBE vaccine in Sutton
If you are heading somewhere with a TBE risk and you will be spending time outdoors, vaccination is a sensible step, and the sooner you start the more options you have. At Gaiger Pharmacy in Sutton we offer TBE vaccination with TicoVac at £75 a dose, with both standard and accelerated schedules, and a pharmacist who will tailor the plan to your trip.
Because TicoVac stock has been limited across the UK this year, the best first move is to call us on 020 8643 6787 so we can check current availability and map the doses to your travel dates. You can also book through our travel clinic online.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the TBE vaccine in Sutton?
The tick-borne encephalitis vaccine (TicoVac) is £75 a dose at Gaiger Pharmacy. The standard course is three doses. Our pharmacist will confirm how many doses your trip needs and the total before you go ahead. Call us on 020 8643 6787 to check current stock.
How many doses do I need, and how far apart?
The standard course is three doses: the second one to three months after the first, and the third five to twelve months after the second. Good protection is reached after the second dose. There is also an accelerated option for adults, with the first two doses two weeks apart.
I am travelling soon. Can I still be protected in time?
Possibly. Adults can use the accelerated schedule, where the first two doses are two weeks apart and good protection follows about two weeks after the second. Speak to us as early as you can, because timing and current TicoVac stock both matter.
Which countries have a TBE risk?
Much of central, eastern and northern Europe, and parts of Asia including Russia, China, Japan and South Korea. Risk is highest in forested and rural areas. Our countries guide goes into detail.
Do I need it if I am only visiting cities?
Usually not. TBE risk is linked to time spent in forests, grassland and rural areas during the tick season. City-only trips without rural excursions are generally low risk, but check with our pharmacist if you are unsure.
Is the TBE vaccine the same as protection against Lyme disease?
No. Both are spread by ticks, but they are different illnesses. The TBE vaccine protects against tick-borne encephalitis only. There is currently no vaccine for Lyme disease, so tick-bite prevention matters for both.
Can children have the TBE vaccine?
Yes. TicoVac Junior is available for children aged 1 to 15, at a lower dose, with the same three-dose schedule. Our pharmacist will advise on the right course for your child’s trip.
Does the vaccine protect me completely?
It gives good protection, but no vaccine is a guarantee, and it does not cover other tick-borne illnesses. Continue to take tick-bite precautions such as covering up, using repellent and checking for ticks daily.
