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Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine (IXIARO) Rapid Schedule

21 August 2015

A rapid schedule of administration of Japanese encephalitis vaccine (IXIARO®) has become licensed for use.(1)

This rapid schedule allows administration of two doses of IXIARO® to adults 18–65 years on days 0 and 7. Both doses should be administered at least one week prior to exposure. Initial studies have shown that protection is conferred up to day 56 post vaccination (of the initial vaccine dose). Longevity of protection using this schedule has not yet been established beyond day 56.(2)

The rapid schedule of vaccination will be useful for those travellers who do not have time for the normal (day 0 and 28) schedule of vaccination, and where short term protection is sufficient.

Where possible and when time allows, the day 0 and 28 schedule is preferred since this offers longer protection.

References

(1) SPC. Japanese encephalitis vaccine (IXIARO®) 27 July 2015. Available at: http://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/21683 [Accessed 20 August 2015]

(2) Jelinek T, Burchard G, Dieckmann S, et al (2015). Short-term immunogenicity and safety of an accelerated pre-exposure prophylaxis regimen with Japanese encephalitis vaccine in combination with a rabies vaccine: A phase III multicenter, observer-blind study. In Journal of Travel Medicine: Vol 22 (Issue 4)