Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) vaccine

Japanese encephalitis is a rare but serious disease caused by the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). Protect yourself and your family against Japanese encephalitis – if you’re eligible, get the free vaccine now.

People eligible for the free JEV vaccine

Free JEV vaccination is available for a limited time for the following eligible groups:

  • people aged 2 months and older who have a primary residence in an eligible Local Government Area (LGA) below AND:
    • who regularly spend time outdoors placing them at risk of mosquito bites; or
    • who are experiencing homelessness; or
    • who are living in conditions with limited mosquito protection (e.g. tents, caravans, dwellings without insect screens).
  • people engaging in outdoor River Murray Flood recovery efforts who regularly spend time outdoors placing them at risk of mosquito bites.
  • people aged 2 months and older who have a secondary residence in an eligible postcode eligible postcode (PDF 140KB) affected by the River Murray flood that occurred during the 2022/23 summer, AND spend at least 4 hours per day outdoors most days.
  • people employed in a role located in an eligible postcode (PDF 140KB) AND spend at least 4 hours per day outdoors most days as part of their occupation.

JEV vaccine eligible LGAs

  • Alexandrina Council
  • Berri Barmera
  • Mid Murray Council
  • District Council of Loxton Waikerie
  • Coorong District Council
  • Rural City of Murray Bridge
  • Southern Mallee
  • Renmark Paringa Council
  • Karoonda East Murray District Council
  • Unincorporated areas next to the Murray River within the postcodes 5330, 5341, 5342, 5343, 5344 and 5345

If your secondary residence has been inundated by the River Murray flood event, please provide proof of your address when presenting for vaccination.

Other eligible groups

Free JEV vaccination is also available for 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
  • 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.
  • emergency services workers supporting the Riverland community during the flooding event, who will spend four weeks or more working in the area and are outdoors for four hours or more on most days during this time.

Proof of eligibility

People eligible to receive a JEV vaccine will need to provide evidence of primary residence in an eligible LGA (ie address linked to Medicare card) or a letter from their employer if working in an eligible postcode (PDF 140KB).

People who own a secondary residence/holiday house in an eligible postcode affected by the River Murray flood event are eligible for the free JEV vaccine. Immediate family who reside with them and their dependents are also eligible. Owners of a secondary residence that has been inundated by flooding need to provide proof of ownership (ie rates notice or electricity bill).

A letter template for employers (DOCX 28KB) can be completed by your employer as proof of eligibility.

People who are not eligible

Guests and/or visitors of people with a primary or secondary residence are not eligible.

Vaccine supply is currently limited in Australia. The eligible groups may be expanded once more vaccine is available. Current eligibility criteria are subject to change.

Persons who require JEV vaccine as they are travelling overseas are not eligible under this program, and instead should contact a travel medicine clinic.

Where you can get vaccinated

You can get a free JEV vaccine at the participating vaccine providers below. Don’t forget to take your proof of eligibility with you.

Vaccination is free for eligible people at vaccination clinics and pharmacies. GPs may charge a consult fee for vaccination appointments.

Confirmed clinics
Suburb Clinic name and location Vaccines offered Age Bookings
Barmera 5345 Barmera Medical Clinic
24 Hawdon Street		 Imojev and JEspect 2 months+ Contact the clinic for eligibility and to make a booking
Barmera 5345 Barmera Pharmacy
20 Barwell Road		 Imojev
 5 years+ Contact the pharmacy for eligibility and to make a booking
Berri 5343 Berri Medical Clinic
29 McGilton Road		 Imojev and JEspect 2 months+ Contact the clinic for eligibility and to make a booking
Berri 5343 Riverland Plaza Pharmacy
32 Kay Avenue		 Imojev 5 years+ Contact the pharmacy for eligibility and to make a booking
Berri 5343 Living Well with Dr Wilson
26 Kay Avenue		 Imojev and JEspect 2 months+ Contact the clinic for eligibility and to make a booking
Coonalpyn 5265 The Dukes Medical Centre
18 Paynter Terrace		 Imojev and JEspect 2 months+ Contact the clinic for eligibility and to make booking
Goolwa 5214 Alexandrina Council
11 Cadell Street
(City of Onkaparinga Clinic)		 Imojev and JEspect 2 months+
Bookings essential - click to make a booking at Goolwa
Goolwa 5214 Priceline Pharmacy
20 Cadell Street		 Imojev 5 years+ Contact the pharmacy for eligibility and booking
Goolwa 5214 The Cadell Street Clinic
31C Cadell Street		 Imojev and JEspect 2 months+ Contact the clinic for eligibility and to make a booking
Karoonda 5307 Karoonda Medical
13 Stokes Road		 Imojev and JEspect 2 months+ Contact the clinic for eligibility and to make a booking
Lameroo 5302 Mallee Medical Practice
1 Vardon Terrace		 Imojev and JEspect 2 months+ Contact the clinic for eligibility and to make a booking
Loxton 5333 Loxton Health Centre
11 Anzac Crescent		 Imojev and JEspect 2 months+ Contact the clinic for eligibility and to make a booking
Loxton 5333 Loxton Pharmacy
4-6 East Terrace		 Imojev 5 years+ Contact the pharmacy for eligibility and to make a booking
Mannum 5238 Mannum Medical Centre
Parker Street		 Imojev and JEspect 2 months+ Contact the clinic for eligibility and to make a booking
Mannum 5238 Terry White Mannum Riverside
86-88 Randell Street		 Imojev 5 years+ Contact the pharmacy for eligibility and to make a booking
Mannum 5238 Terry White Mannum Green
65-75 Adelaide Road		 Imojev 5 years+ Contact the pharmacy for eligibility and to make a booking
Meningie 5264 Coorong Medical Centre
2 South Terrace		 Imojev and JEspect 2 months+ Contact the clinic for eligibility and to make a booking
Mount Compass 5210 Mt Compass Pharmacy
Shop 4, 30-34 Victor Harbor Road		 Imojev 5 years+ Contact the pharmacy for eligibility and to make a booking
Murray Bridge 5253 Bridge Clinic
8 Standen Street		 Imojev and JEspect 2 months+ Contact the clinic for eligibility and to make a booking
Murray Bridge 5253 Bridgeview Family Practice
3-5 Bridge Street		 Imojev and JEspect 2 months+ Contact the clinic for eligibility and to make a booking
Murray Bridge 5253 Priceline Pharmacy Murray Bridge
23-51 South Terrace		 Imojev 5 years+ Contact the pharmacy for eligibility and to make a booking
Pinnaroo Mallee Border Health Centre
29 Hensley Street		 Imojev and JEspect 2 months + Contact the clinic for eligibility and to make a booking
Port Elliot Port Elliot Medical Clinic
Cnr North and Montpellier Terrace		 Imojev and JEspect
2 months +
Contact the clinic for eligibility and to make a booking
Renmark 5341 Renmark Medical Clinic
65 Thurk Street		 Imojev and JEspect 2 months+ Contact the clinic for eligibility and to make a booking
Renmark 5341 United Chemists Renmark
227 Renmark Avenue		 Imojev 5 years+ Contact the pharmacy for eligibility and to make a booking
Renmark 5341 Priceline Pharmacy Remark
10-12 Renmark Avenue		 Imojev 5 years+ Contact the pharmacy for eligibility and to make a booking
Strathalbyn 5255 Strathalbyn Council Chambers
1 Coleman Terrace		 Imojev and JEspect 2 months + Bookings essential - click to make a booking at Strathalbyn
Strathalbyn 5255
Strathalbyn Family Medical Centre
Imojev and JEspect
2 months +
Contact the clinic for eligibility and to make a booking
Tailem Bend 5260 Murraylands Medical Practice
70 Princes Highway		 Imojev and JEspect 2 months+ Contact the clinic for eligibility and to make a booking
Tailem Bend 5260 Tailem Bend Pharmacy
75 Railway Terrace		 Imojev 5 years+ Contact the pharmacy for eligibility and to make a booking
Waikerie 5330 Waikerie Medical Centre
2 Strangan Road		 Imojev and JEspect 2 months+ Contact the clinic for eligibility and to make a booking

Available vaccines

JEspect

JEspect is an inactivated vaccine and can be given to those who cannot have the live vaccine, including:

  • infants from 2 months to less than 9 months
  • people who are immunocompromised
  • women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

JEspect is available from participating GPs and some council clinics.

Imojev

Imojev is a ‘live’ attenuated vaccine, which means it contains a weakened version of the live virus JEV. Imojev can be given to people over 9 months. You cannot receive Imojev if you have had a product containing immunoglobulin in the preceding 3 months.

Imojev is available at participating pharmacies, GPs and council clinics.

More information about the vaccines

The Japanese Encephalitis Vaccination Program fact sheet (PDF 260KB) has more information about the JEV vaccines, including:

  • JEV vaccines available in South Australia
  • vaccine dosage
  • interval between other types of vaccines
  • side effects
  • immunity and efficacy
  • vaccination suitability for people with immunosuppression or taking medication.

Vaccine safety

Both vaccines are highly effective and safe. 

The vaccines have been used extensively over many years in Australian Defence Force personnel, residents of the Torres Strait Islands and travellers to southeast Asia. Both vaccines are used extensively in childhood and some adult vaccination programs in countries with ongoing transmission of JEV.

Side effects

As with any medicine, there is a very small chance of a vaccine causing a severe allergic reaction. Severe reactions to JEV vaccine are very rare. 

Common side effects of JEV vaccines may include:

  • pain, tenderness, redness, or swelling where the vaccine was given
  • fever may occur, more often in children
  • headache or muscle aches can also occur, mainly in adults.

Side effects usually occur within 3 to 7 days after receiving the vaccine and only last a few days.

Other things you need to do to protect yourself against JEV

You still need to protect yourself from mosquito bites because:

  • no vaccine is 100% effective
  • the JEV vaccines take a few weeks to provide protection
  • there are other mosquito-borne diseases in South Australia for which no vaccine is available (Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus, Murray Valley encephalitis virus, West Nile virus/Kunjin disease).

Fight the Bite to protect yourself and your family against mosquito bites and mosquito-borne diseases:

  • Cover up by wearing long, loose fitting clothing.
  • Repel using insect repellent.
  • Eliminate the water the mosquitoes can breed in.

Take part in the South Australian JEV Serosurvey

Everyone living in the Riverland Mallee Coorong region is being invited to participate in a regional Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) Serosurvey being undertaken by the Riverland Academy of Clinical Excellence (RACE) Public Health Unit. A serosurvey is a survey of blood samples collected from the population to measure immunity due to past infection or vaccination. It will determine how many people have already been exposed to this virus.

More information

If you have any questions or need to report an adverse event following immunisation (AEFI), you can:

  • speak with your GP
  • contact the Immunisation Section, SA Health Monday to Friday between 9.00 am and 5.00 pm on 1300 232 272.