The Japanese encephalitis vaccine is safe and effective for people aged 2 months and older. Vaccination is recommended for those at the highest risk of catching Japanese encephalitis.
Once fully vaccinated, it can take between 2 to 4 weeks for your body to develop a protective immune response to the disease, so if you’re eligible, you should get vaccinated as soon as possible.
In NSW, a Japanese encephalitis virus vaccine is available for free for people aged 2 months or older who live or work (including volunteer deployments) in any of the below Local Government Areas (LGAs) and are at risk of mosquito bites.
A free JEV vaccination is also recommended for people who live in any part of NSW and:
Joseph is 72 years old, retired, and lives in his own home in Moree. Joseph has insect screens on all his doors and windows. Joseph sits in his garden each morning reading the newspaper.
Is Joseph eligible for JEV vaccination? Yes. Joseph spends time outside in an eligible area.
Andy is 38 years old and lives in Coffs Harbour. Andy is a Rural Fire Service volunteer and is regularly deployed to western NSW to respond to emergencies as a volunteer.
Is Andy eligible for JEV vaccination? Yes, Andy is regularly deployed to JEV-risk areas for outdoor volunteer work.
Mary is 35 years old and works in an office in Griffith. Mary has two children, Georgia (6 years old) and Henry (2 years old). Mary walks Georgia to school each day and Henry comes along on his scooter. Mary is currently pregnant.
Is Mary eligible for JE vaccination? Yes. Mary spends time outside in an eligible area.
Is Henry and Georgia eligible for JE vaccination? Yes both children spent time outside in an eligible area.
There are two safe and effective JEV vaccines:
For more information on the available JEV vaccines, visit the Australian Immunisation Handbook.
If you are eligible for a free JEV vaccine, speak to your General Practitioner (GP), pharmacist or Aboriginal Medical Service about getting vaccinated today.
People who meet the above criteria should make an appointment with their GP, pharmacist or Aboriginal Medical Service and let them know it is for the Japanese encephalitis vaccine as they may require a few days' notice to order the vaccine.
Some providers may charge an administration or consultation fee. Be sure to check if this applies to you.
NSW Health has secured a limited supply of JE vaccines. Supply to Australia is limited by global ordering constraints.
Vaccines are available to order from the State Vaccine Centre strictly for administration to people who are eligible as outlined above.
Most people who are fully vaccinated do not require a booster dose. It is recommended that you speak with your GP if it has been a few years since getting a JEV vaccine.
Depending on which brand of vaccine you received, you may be required to get a booster. If you don’t know which vaccine you received, your GP can do a blood test to check if you still have evidence of protection.
More than 95% of people develop a protective immune response to the virus by about 28 days after completing the primary vaccination schedule.
Vaccinated people should still take measures to avoid mosquito bites, as not all mosquito-borne diseases have a vaccine available to prevent infection.
If you are pregnant and are at increased risk of exposure to JEV, you should get vaccinated with the JEspect JEV vaccine. No adverse outcomes of pregnancy have been attributed to vaccination with JEspect.
Infection with JEV during the first and second trimesters has been associated with miscarriage, so it's recommended pregnant women are vaccinated against JEV if they are at risk of infection.
The JEV vaccine is safe, effective and has been used extensively over many years in Australian Defence Force personnel, residents of the Torres Strait Islands and travellers to southeast Asia.
As with most vaccinations, there are some common side effects. Common side effects of JEV vaccines are:
Fever may occur, more often in children. Headache or muscle aches can also occur, mainly in adults. These side effects usually go away within a few days.
Severe reactions to JEV vaccine are very rare. As with any medicine, there is a very small chance of a vaccine causing a severe allergic reaction.
Existing supply of JEV vaccines in Australia are limited. If you are not a person at highest risk of infection with JEV (identified above), then you are not eligible for a free JEV vaccine. If you're unsure, speak to your General Practitioner or pharmacist.
Japanese Encephalitis vaccine is available privately for those who do not meet the above criteria, and for travellers spending a month or more in areas where JE infection is common during mosquito activity seasons, including areas in Asia, Papua New Guinea or the outer islands of Torres Strait.
Talk to your General Practitioner or other primary health practitioner to discuss whether vaccination is appropriate. Vaccination should be completed at least 2 weeks prior to travel.
The best prevention for all mosquito borne diseases is avoiding mosquito bites – see Mosquitoes are a Health Hazard factsheet for further information on how to protect yourself.
