Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccination is recommended for:
residents of the outer islands in Torres Strait
non-residents who will be living or working on the outer islands of Torres Strait for a cumulative total of 30 days or more during the wet season (December to May)
JE virus transmission in Torres Strait usually peaks in February and March. Timing of vaccination in residents should consider age, time of year, vaccine schedule and recent epidemiology.
People who do not need to be vaccinated are those who are:
arriving in the outer islands in May, because this is late in the wet season and after the risk period for transmission
visiting the outer islands in the dry season (June to November)
visiting only the inner islands, including Thursday Island
People who are at ongoing risk of acquiring JE may need booster doses.
The need for a booster dose of JE vaccine depends on:
the person’s age when they received their primary vaccination course
