Japanese encephalitis vaccine

Which Japanese encephalitis vaccines are available in Indian market?

Effective vaccines which are cell culture-based,  are  available in market now. They have replaced the earlier available mouse-brain derived inactivated vaccines. Currently three brands of vaccines are available for use in India.

JEEV and JENVAC (inactivated) are manufactured by Indian companies, while another (live attenuated) is imported from China and is exclusively used in the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) of the Government of India.

A new live attenuated vaccine, JE–yellow fever chimeric vaccine has recently been licensed for use in Australia and Thailand. A single dose of this chimeric JE vaccine was found to be safe, highly immunogenic and capable of providing long-lasting immunity in both preclinical and clinical trials.

 Is Japanese encephalitis vaccine a mandatory vaccine for all?

Vaccination is recommended only for individuals living in endemic areas (where JE is prevalent), like rural areas of Assam, UP and Tamilnadu. Vaccination is must even for persons traveling to endemic areas

Vaccination schedule and doses is according to type of vaccine:

Inactivated Vero cell culture vaccine (JENVAC by Bharat Biotech)

1 year

• 2 doses of 0.5 ml each administered intramuscularly at 4-week interval

• requirement of boosters still undetermined

Live attenuated, cell culture derived vaccine

8 months

• 2 doses, first at 9 months and second at 16-18 months along with other routine vaccines

Inactivated cell culture derived vaccine (JEEV® by BE India)

1 year

•  2 doses of 0.5 ml for children>3 years

• 2 doses for adults aged  ≥18 years

•  Need of boosters still undetermined

Catch up vaccination:

• All weak children up to 18 yrs who are prone to getting sick, should be administered JE vaccine during disease outbreak/ahead of possible outbreak in endemic areas during campaign