Japanese encephalitis vaccination
Safe and effective vaccines for Japanese encephalitis (JE) are available in Australia for people aged 2 months and over.
ACT Government-funded JE vaccines are being prioritised for those currently at highest risk of JE.
JE vaccines are available on the private market for those who do not meet the current ACT government criteria, and for people travelling overseas.
Groups currently eligible to receive ACT Government-funded JE vaccines 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 JE virus cultures or mosquitoes with the potential to transmit JE virus; as per the Australian Immunisation Handbook.
- People who are engaged or have the potential to undertake prolonged outdoor work in JE high risk areas. Examples include recovery efforts (clean up) of stagnant waters following floods. High risk areas include certain local government areas in New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia.
- Until 30 June 2026, anyone in the ACT who plans to travel to JE high risk areas in Australia for any outdoor recreational activities. Examples of outdoor recreational activities include, but are not limited to, hiking, caravaning, camping, hunting, boating and fishing.
High risk areas
Information on JE high risk areas in Australian states and territories is available from their websites:
Vaccine ordering and administration
If you have onboarded to receive government vaccines in the ACT, you can order JE vaccine via the vaccine order form.
It is mandatory to report all JE vaccines administered to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). Administration data is no longer required to be returned to the Immunisation Section.
Booking a vaccination
If you believe you are eligible, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Let them know prior to your appointment that it is for the government-funded JE vaccine, as the vaccine may need to be ordered in.
While the government-funded JE vaccine is free, there may be a fee charged for administration. You don’t need a Medicare card to receive a government-funded JE vaccine if you are eligible.
Protection from the vaccine can take up to two weeks to develop so it’s important to plan ahead.
Find out more about Japanese encephalitis.