Access to Japanese encephalitis virus vaccine

As part of the national response to the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) outbreak, SA Health is offering free JEV vaccines to groups identified for priority vaccination by the Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA).

This includes people who work at, reside at, or have 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, veterinarians and others involved in the care of pigs
  • pork abattoir or pork rendering plant.
  • personnel who work 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 (e.g. sentinel animals) such as:
    • environmental health officers and workers (urban and remote)
    • entomologists
  • 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.

The JEV vaccines are available from selected vaccination clinics in your local area for the next 2-3 weeks, depending on demand. Please note, some COVID-19 vaccination clinic sites have been made available for people to access their JEV vaccinations.

If you are eligible to receive the free JEV vaccine contact the vaccination clinic coordinator for your local area to organise JEV vaccinations:

Contact the vaccination clinic coordinator in your local area to organise JEV vaccinations:

If you cannot access one of these locations, SA Health may be able to arrange to have this vaccine delivered to your local GP. Your GP can contact the Immunisation Section, SA Health, to discuss this option.

If you would like more information on JEV disease please go to the SA Health website. If you would like to speak to someone about the vaccines, contact the Immunisation Section, SA Health Monday to Friday between 9.00 am and 5.00 pm on 1300 232 272.