Zug, 24.07.2019

Waiting lists drawn up for those wanting inoculation against tick-borne encephalitis

 

Pharmacists and general practitioners in the canton are among those affected by a shortage in the supply of vaccine for people wanting to be inoculated against tick-borne encephalitis.

 

As previously reported, bites from ticks, which are active between the months of March and November, can lead to both tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and Lyme disease, the insects often waiting in long grass until someone enjoying a country walk passes by. While it is possible to be inoculated against TBE, this is not the case with Lyme disease.

 

According to the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG), there were 375 cases of TBE recorded in Switzerland last year, three of which were registered in the canton of Zug. So far this year 99 cases have been recorded nationally. It is on account of the increase in cases which led the BAG to include the whole area of Switzerland, with the exception of Geneva and the Ticino, as risk areas. And it is this which is related to the shortage in supply of the two vaccines, “Encepur N” and “FSME Immun CC”, used in Switzerland.

 

Regula Kaufmann Castillo, who is the chairwoman of the Zug Society of General Practice Medicine, confirmed there were shortages with “Encepur N”, no further stocks available until October. “This means that at present we can only inoculate between five and ten patients a week, with waiting lists of up to three weeks having to be set up,” she said.

 

For his part, Martin Affentranger of the Zug Pharmacists’ Association said that delivery problems had been noticed as early as May, though the alternative vaccine was readily available.

 

Indeed, statistics show people are taking to the vaccines; while 33 people in Zug were inoculated in the first quarter of 2018, this year the number rose to 307 in the same period. Then, while 219 were inoculated in the second quarter of last year, this year the number rose to 368.

 

Of note is that there is no shortage of vaccine at the Cantonal Hospital in Baar, where it was reported it was staff and the occasional out-patient who were inoculated.