The main aims of the ISW-TBE are:

• To promote national and international collaboration on TBE: scientific, medical and regulatory
• To stimulate and co-ordinate applied and basic research on TBE
• To contribute to training and educational programmes in the field
• To provide high-quality information on TBE and promote appropriate distribution
• To promote and align international standards on epidemiological TBE surveillance
• To define and promote proposals to harmonize national and international policies on TBE prevention
• Through the above activities to gain recognition as an independent advisory committee to national and international health authorities as well as to scientific and medical professions

Main activities

In order to achieve its stated objectives the ISW-TBE has defined the following major activities:

• To provide state-of-the-art reviews on TBE-immunization policies
• To publish a semi-annual bulletin, offering news, editorials, reviews, commentaries and epidemiological reports
• To organize national and international meetings supporting TBE immunization
• To participate in scientific meetings (presentations, workshops, symposia) appropriate for the development of TBE vaccination
• To publish relevant information, guidelines and results in high-quality scientific journals

Baxter (www.baxtervaccines.com) as a manufacturer of TBE vaccines for the past 30 years, has been invited by the members of this Working Group to join the ISW-TBE in their endeavours to take the lead in promoting problem awareness on TBE and in establishing efficient prevention programmes for this devastating disease.