Japanese Encephalitis Vaccination
Protection against Japanese Encephalitis for travellers spending extended time in rural areas of South-East Asia and the Far East.
Overview
Japanese Encephalitis (JE) is a viral brain infection spread by Culex mosquitoes, which breed in rice paddies and marshland. It's the leading cause of viral encephalitis in Asia, with an estimated 68,000 clinical cases annually.
While most infections are mild or asymptomatic, approximately 1 in 250 infections leads to severe disease — including high fever, seizures, paralysis, and coma. The case fatality rate in severe cases is 20–30%, and 30–50% of survivors have lasting neurological damage.
At Gloucester Travel Clinic, we administer the Ixiaro® vaccine, the only Japanese Encephalitis vaccine licensed in the UK. Two doses are given 28 days apart, and the course should be completed at least one week before entering a risk area.
Who Should Be Vaccinated?
Japanese Encephalitis vaccination is recommended for travellers who will be:
- Spending 1 month or more in endemic areas during transmission season
- Visiting or working in rural agricultural areas, especially near rice paddies or pig farms
- Trekking, camping, or cycling in rural South-East Asia, China, India, or Japan
- Travelling during the monsoon/rainy season when mosquito populations peak
- Repeat travellers to endemic areas even for shorter trips
Vaccine Schedule & Pricing
| Vaccine | Ixiaro® (Valneva) |
| Doses required | 2 doses, 28 days apart |
| Price | £100 per dose (£200 total) |
| Booster | Recommended at 12–24 months for continued exposure |
| Minimum age | 2 months |
Endemic Regions
Japanese Encephalitis is found across much of Asia and parts of the Western Pacific: