Posology : מינונים

4.2     Posology and method of administration

Posology
Primary vaccination schedule
The primary vaccination schedule is the same for all persons from the age of 16 onwards and consists of three doses of TicoVac 0.5 ml.
The first and second dose should be given at a 1 to 3 month interval.
If there is a need to achieve an immune response rapidly, the second dose may be given two weeks after the first dose.
After the first two doses sufficient protection for the ongoing tick season is to be expected (see section 5.1).
The third dose should be given 5 to 12 months after the second vaccination. After the third dose protection is expected to last for at least 3 years.
To achieve immunity before the beginning of the seasonal tick activity, which is in spring, the first and second doses should preferably be given in the winter months. The vaccination schedule should ideally be completed 
with the third vaccination within the same tick season or at the least before the start of the following tick season.

Basic Immunization          Dose               Conventional Schedule                  Rapid Immunization Schedule st
1 dose              0.5 ml                    Elected date                               Elected date 2nd dose            0.5 ml        1 to 3 months after the 1st vaccination       14 days after the 1st vaccination
3rd dose            0.5 ml       5 to 12 months after the 2nd vaccination   5 to 12 months after the 2nd vaccination 
Booster doses
Persons from 16 to 60 years of age
The first booster dose should be given 3 years after the third dose (see section 5.1).
Sequential booster doses should be given every 5 years after the last booster dose.

Persons 60 years of age and older
In general, in individuals over 60 years of age the booster intervals should not exceed three years.
Booster dose  16 to < 60 years                 Dose                               Timing st
1 booster                           0.5 ml                 3 years after the 3rd vaccination Sequential booster doses                  0.5 ml                          every 5 years 

Booster dose  60 years                   Dose                               Timing All booster doses                      0.5 ml                          every 3 years 
Extending the interval between any of the doses (primary vaccination schedule and booster doses) may leave subjects with inadequate protection against infection (see section 5.1).
However, in the case of an interrupted vaccination schedule of at least two previous vaccinations, a single catch-up dose is sufficient to continue the vaccination schedule (see section 5.1).

Persons with impaired immune system (including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy) There are no specific clinical data on which to base dose recommendations. However, consideration may be given to determining the antibody concentration at four weeks after the second dose and administering an additional dose if there is no evidence of seroconversion at this time. The same applies to any of the following doses.

Method of administration

The vaccine should be given by intramuscular injection into the upper arm (deltoid muscle).
In exceptional cases only (in subjects with a bleeding disorder or in subjects receiving prophylactic anticoagulation), the vaccine may be administered subcutaneously (see sections 4.4 and 4.8).

Care must be taken to avoid accidental intravascular administration (see section 4.4).