Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) vaccination

Safe and effective vaccines for Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) are available in Australia for people aged 2 months and over.

These vaccines are not on the National Immunisation Program schedule, which is the list of vaccines that are provided free for children and adults in Australia.

JEV vaccines are being prioritised for those currently at highest risk of JEV.

Groups currently eligible to receive government funded JEV vaccine in the ACT

• People involved with piggeries or the pork industry in one of the following categories:
  • Works or resides at, or has a planned, non-deferable visit to a piggery, including but not limited to farm workers and their families (including children aged 2 months and older) living at the piggery.
  • Transport workers who transport pigs to piggeries, veterinarians and others involved in the care of pigs at piggeries.
  • Works at, or has a planned, non-deferable visit to a pork abattoir or pork rendering plant.
• People working directly with mosquitoes through their surveillance (field or laboratory based) or control and management, and indirectly through management of vertebrate mosquito-borne disease surveillance systems such as:
  • Environmental health officers and workers (urban and remote).
  • Entomologists or other personnel who work directly with mosquitoes.
• All diagnostic and research laboratory workers who may be exposed to the virus. Such as persons working with JEV cultures or mosquitoes with the potential to transmit JEV; as per the Australian Immunisation Handbook.
• People who are engaged or have the potential to undertake prolonged outdoor work in areas of high JEV concern. Examples include recovery efforts (clean up) of stagnant waters following floods. Areas of high JEV concern include local government areas in NSW, Victoria, South Australia, and Queensland.

Letter to eligible people

ACT Health has sent a letter to eligible people through their workplaces advising how to book in for a JEV vaccination.

If you believe you are eligible for a JEV vaccination and have not received a letter through your workplace, you can either:

• contact the ACT Health Immunisation Section on 02 5124 9800
• or discuss with your general practitioner (GP).

Information for GPs

A letter was sent to ACT General Practitioners (GPs) in December 2022 outlining the eligibility criteria and process for ordering a JEV vaccine [PDF237KB].

Download the JEV vaccine order form for GPs [PDF 237KB].

Booking a vaccination

If you are eligible for a vaccine, you will have been sent a letter by ACT Health through your workplace about how to book.

If you believe you are eligible and haven't received a letter, contact the ACT Health Immunisation Section for further information on 02 5124 9800 or talk to your doctor.

The vaccine is not free under the National Immunisation Program.

Find out more about Japanese encephalitis virus.