Duration of the vaccination and refreshment | Vaccination against Japanese Encephalitis

Duration of the vaccination and refreshment

In order to have complete protection against Japanese Encephalitis, two vaccinations are required at intervals of 4 weeks. Only 7 to 14 days after the second vaccination is complete protection guaranteed. Once this basic immunization is complete, a booster vaccination (1 dose) must only be given again after 3 years.

Which doctor can administer the vaccination?

In principle, any doctor who performs vaccinations can administer the Japanese Encephalitis vaccine. The easiest way is certainly to make an appointment with a general practitioner (“family doctor”) for travel vaccination advice. There are also special tropical medicine counseling centers at major hospitals that also offer travel medicine counseling.

It is important to get general advice before the trip about which vaccinations are required. You should present yourself at least 8 weeks before the start of your trip. If several vaccinations are required, your doctor will prepare an individual travel vaccination plan for you.

For which countries (risk areas) do I need the vaccination?

The German Society for Tropical Medicine recommends a vaccination for a long-term stay in a risk area (see below). This includes family visits as well as long-term travelers who are in the country for more than a month. Travelers who have an increased risk of infection should also be vaccinated, regardless of the length of the trip.

This includes overnight stays in rural areas, especially during the rainy season and afterwards. If the traveler has the desire for comprehensive protection, the vaccination can be administered after a detailed consultation. Risk areas according to the World Health Organization WHO (as of September 2017): Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Cambodia, North and South Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, the Indian delta of Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.