Tick fear and vaccine confusion? This is what applies

Sweden is experiencing a sharp rise in tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) cases this summer, with 213 infections reported by July 20. This marks a substantial increase from the 111 and 138 cases recorded during the same periods in 2024 and 2025, respectively.

The disease, transmitted through tick bites, can lead to severe neurological complications. Ulrika Marking, an infectious disease doctor at the Public Health Agency of Sweden, explained that affected individuals risk personality changes, confusion, motor impairments, and difficulty walking. In severe cases, TBE can result in unconsciousness and may cause lingering symptoms for many years, or even a lifetime.

The Public Health Agency recommends vaccination for all individuals who risk tick bites in areas with moderate to high TBE prevalence. Particularly affected regions include Sörmland, Uppsala, Värmland, and Västmanland, though the virus is also spreading northward from its strongholds in the south.

Vaccination schedules vary based on age. Those under 50 require two doses spaced one to three months apart, followed by a booster after one year, and then every ten years. Individuals over 50, or those with weakened immune systems, need an initial three-dose series, a booster after one year, and then boosters every five years. Marking noted that the immune system's memory response is less robust in older individuals, necessitating more frequent boosters.