Let’s Discuss Japanese Encephalitis Vaccines. 

The Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine, IXIARO, is given as a two-dose series, with the doses spaced 28 days apart with the second dose given at least 1 week before travel. 

A booster dose (third dose) should be given if a person received the two-dose primary vaccination series over one year previously and continues to be at risk for Japanese encephalitis virus infection or has potential for re-exposure to the virus. 

Japanese encephalitis vaccination is recommended for travelers who are moving to an area with Japanese encephalitis to live; spend long periods of time, such as a month or more, in areas with Japanese encephalitis; and/or frequently travel to areas with Japanese encephalitis. Consider vaccination when spending less than a month in areas with Japanese encephalitis, but will be doing activities that increase risk of infection, such as visiting rural areas, hiking or camping, or staying in places without air conditioning, screens, or bed nets; going to areas with Japanese encephalitis who are uncertain of their activities or how long they will be there. The vaccine is not recommended for travelers planning short-term travel to urban areas or traveling at times outside of the Japanese encephalitis season. 

For both vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers going to areas with Japanese encephalitis, it is important to avoid mosquito bites. 

Japanese Encephalitis vaccines usually do require a prescription. Contraindications: 

-A severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) after a previous dose of JE vaccine, or any component of the vaccine (ie Protamine Sulfate). 

Precautions: 

-Administration of the JE vaccine to pregnant women usually should be deferred. However, pregnant women who must travel to an area where risk for

infection is high should be vaccinated when the theoretical risk of immunization is outweighed by the risk of infection.