Generic Name: Japanese encephalitis virus vaccine (Nakayama) (JAP a NEEZ en CEF a LYE tis NA ka YA ma)
Brand Names: Je-Vax
What is Japanese encephalitis virus vaccine (Nakayama)?
Japanese encephalitis is a serious disease caused by a virus. It is the leading cause of viral encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) in Asia. Encephalitis is an infection of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord. This infection often causes only mild symptoms, but prolonged swelling of the brain can cause permanent brain damage or death.
Japanese encephalitis virus is carried and spread by mosquitos.
The Japanese encephalitis Nakayama vaccine is used to help prevent this disease in adults and children who are at least 12 months old.
This vaccine works by exposing you to a small dose of the virus, which causes the body to develop immunity to the disease. This vaccine will not treat an active infection that has already developed in the body.
This vaccine is recommended for people who plan to spend 30 days or longer in areas where Japanese encephalitis is known to exist, or where an epidemic has recently occurred. The vaccine should also be given to people who will spend any amount of time in rural areas where Japanese encephalitis is endemic, or those who are otherwise at high risk of coming into contact with the virus.
You should receive this vaccine and all booster shots at least 10 days prior to your arrival in an area where you may be exposed to the virus.
Not everyone who travels to Asia needs to receive a Japanese encephalitis vaccine. Follow your doctor instructions or the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
This vaccine is also recommended for people who work in a research laboratory and may be exposed to Japanese encephalitis virus through needle-stick accidents or inhalation of viral droplets in the air.
Like any vaccine, the Japanese encephalitis Nakayama vaccine may not provide protection from disease in every person.
What is the most important information I should know about this vaccine?
The Japanese encephalitis Nakayama vaccine is given in a series of 3 shots. The booster shots are usually given 7 days and 2 weeks to 1 month after the first shot. Your individual booster schedule may be different from these guidelines. Follow your doctor's instructions or the schedule recommended by the health department of the state you live in.
Japanese encephalitis Nakayama vaccine is for use in adults and children who are at least 12 months old.
This vaccine is recommended for people who plan to spend 30 days or longer in areas where Japanese encephalitis is known to exist, or where an epidemic has recently occurred. The vaccine should also be given to people who will spend any amount of time in rural areas where Japanese encephalitis is endemic, or those who are otherwise at high risk of coming into contact with the virus.
You should receive the vaccine and all booster doses at least 10 days prior to your arrival in an area where you may be exposed to the virus.
Not everyone who travels to Asia needs to receive a Japanese encephalitis vaccine. Follow your doctor instructions or the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
This vaccine is also recommended for people who work in a research laboratory and may be exposed to Japanese encephalitis virus through needle-stick accidents or inhalation of viral droplets in the air.
Becoming infected with Japanese encephalitis is much more dangerous to your health than receiving the vaccine to protect against it. Like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects, but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving this vaccine?
You should not receive this vaccine if you have ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to a Japanese encephalitis vaccine, or if you are allergic to mouse proteins or a preservative called thimerosal. You should also not receive this vaccine if you have received cancer chemotherapy or radiation treatment in the past 3 months.
Before receiving this vaccine, tell the doctor if you are allergic to any foods or drugs, or if you have:
an allergy to insect (such as bee or wasp) stings;
a history of seizures;
a neurologic disorder or disease affecting the brain (or if this was a reaction to a previous vaccine); or
a weak immune system caused by disease, bone marrow transplant, or by using certain medicines or receiving cancer treatments.
You can still receive a vaccine if you have a cold or fever. In the case of a more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until you get better before receiving this vaccine.
Vaccines may be harmful to an unborn baby and generally should not be given to a pregnant woman. However, not vaccinating the mother could be more harmful to the baby if the mother becomes infected with a disease that this vaccine could prevent. Your doctor will decide whether you should receive this vaccine, especially if you have a high risk of infection with the Japanese encephalitis virus. Do not receive this vaccine without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How is this vaccine given?
This vaccine is given as an injection (shot) under the skin. You will receive this injection in a doctor's office or other clinic setting.
The Japanese encephalitis Nakayama vaccine is given in a series of 3 shots. The booster shots are usually given 7 days and 2 weeks to 1 month after the first shot. Your individual booster schedule may be different from these guidelines. Follow your doctor's instructions or the schedule recommended by the health department of the state you live in.
Your care providers may want to watch you for signs of allergic reaction for at least 30 minutes after you receive this vaccine.
In addition to receiving the Japanese encephalitis vaccine, use protective clothing, insect repellents, and mosquito netting around your bed to further prevent mosquito bites that could infect you with the Japanese encephalitis virus.
For at least 10 days after receiving a Japanese encephalitis vaccine, be sure to stay in an area where you have access to medical care in case of a delayed allergic reaction.
Your doctor may recommend treating fever and pain with an aspirin-free pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, and others) when the shot is given and for the next 24 hours. Follow the label directions or your doctor's instructions about how much of this medicine to take.
It is especially important to prevent fever from occurring if you have a seizure disorder such as epilepsy.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Contact your doctor if you will miss a booster dose or if you get behind schedule. The next dose should be given as soon as possible. There is no need to start over.
Be sure you receive all recommended doses of this vaccine. If you do not receive the full series of vaccines, you may not be fully protected against the disease.
What happens if I overdose?
An overdose of this vaccine is unlikely to occur.
What should I avoid before or after receiving this vaccine?
Avoid drinking large amounts of alcohol for at least 48 hours after you receive a Japanese encephalitis vaccine.
This vaccine side effects
You should not receive a booster vaccine if you had a life-threatening allergic reaction after the first shot. Keep track of any and all side effects you have after receiving this vaccine. When you receive a booster dose, you will need to tell the doctor if the previous shots caused any side effects.
Becoming infected with Japanese encephalitis is much more dangerous to your health than receiving the vaccine to protect against it. Like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects, but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction (which may occur up to 17 days after you receive the shot): hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
feeling light-headed, fainting;
high fever;
behavior changes; or
seizures (black-out or convulsions).
Less serious side include:
redness, pain, or swelling where the shot was given;
low fever, chills, flu symptoms;
headache, tired feeling;
muscle pain;
nausea, vomiting, stomach pain; or
mild itching or skin rash.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect Japanese encephalitis virus vaccine (Nakayama)?
Before receiving this vaccine, tell the doctor about all other vaccines you have recently received.
Also tell the doctor if you have recently received drugs or treatments that can weaken the immune system, including:
an oral, nasal, inhaled, or injectable steroid medicine;
medications to treat psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, or other autoimmune disorders, such as azathioprine (Imuran), efalizumab (Raptiva), etanercept (Enbrel), leflunomide (Arava), and others; or
medicines to treat or prevent organ transplant rejection, such as basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral, Gengraf), muromonab-CD3 (Orthoclone), mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept), sirolimus (Rapamune), or tacrolimus (Prograf).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with Japanese encephalitis vaccine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you have received. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
More Je-Vax resources
- Je-Vax Side Effects (in more detail)
- Je-Vax Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Je-Vax Drug Interactions
- Je-Vax Support Group
- 0 Reviews for Je-Vax - Add your own review/rating
Compare Je-Vax with other medications
- Japanese Encephalitis Virus Prophylaxis
Where can I get more information?
- Your doctor or pharmacist may have information about this vaccine written for health professionals that you may read. You may also find additional information from your local health department or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
See also: Je-Vax side effects (in more detail)
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