Job Discussion Forums

[worlddiva]

Has anybody gotten the Japanese Encephalitis vaccine?

Is it recommended? If you got the vaccine what was the reason and are you in a rural area?

thanks.

[Gordon]

No, it is really expensive and unnecessary. I also live in a rural area close to rice paddy fields.

[worlddiva]

I checked on the Japanese health and welfare site and reviewed some of their findings in the last 10 years. In 2001, on the island of Shikoku, 50-80% of swine had the HI antibody...(whatever that means...)

Also, I read via the World Health Organization's site that the JE vaccine is required for all Japanese and is administered to them between the ages of 2-4.

However, only 2 cases of JE infection had been reported from US travellers to Japan within the last 10 years or so...

Well, I don't think I'm going to get it,as it is 125$CAD per shot x 3, and the risk of developing an allergic reactions scares me a little.

On a lighter note Gordon,

Guess who's coming to Shikoku?
Remember some time back when I asked what the nicer areas of Japan were (re: nature, trees, ocean) and you had responded that other than Canada I should try to get a placement on Shikoku, well I did! Woo!Hoo!

[Lister100]

I got the vaccine, costs a fortune but the last thing I want is to get a bug bite that turns my head into a pumpkin. It takes about a month to get it over with so if you go for it make a schedule.

Also, I read somewhere that in affected areas one in every two hundred mosquitos carries it. So when you run the numbers it probably isn't so different from West Nile or lime disease except that were more familiar with those problems. I only got the shot because I know myself and everytime I would get bitten I would end up spending the next two days worrying about brain swelling.

Don't worry about the side effects. I was worried about those little mouse brains, but in the end I reacted far worse to the Hep A vaccination.

[Gordon]

World Diva,
I wouldn't worry about it too much. I don't know anyone who has had the shot, except my daughter is going in for her free shot this spring (she's 3). I'd get it too if it was free, but it isn't. I too remember debating about getting it before i came to Japan and the person in the travel health clinic was trying to scare me. To be honest, I haven't thought about it in a year or more.

What part of Shikoku are you going to be living? Good for you.

[worlddiva]

Hey Lister100!

Did you get the JE vaccine in North America or in Japan??

Does anyone know how much it costs to get the vaccine in Japan?

I already had my hep B vacc. + got a booster for tetanus/diphteria.

I was contemplating getting the hep A + typhoid fever vaccine...what happened to you after the hep A vacc.??

Gordon, I'll be living in Kochi. Ever been there?
I hear there is a nice castle/beautiful surroundings...

What's the weather like compared to Canada? I checked on weatherunderground and last year it stated that it didn't snow once in Kochi. Do I even need a winter coat?

[Lister100]

Hi Worlddiva,

Yeah, I got the vaccination in Canada. I don't know how much it costs in Japan but the clinic suggested that the cost of everything in Japan is usually more so there is a good chance this would be no exception.

The Hep. A shot just made me feel a little noxious for about a day and a half. Nothing serious and the J. Encephalitis vaccine had no side effects. I guess the most violent reaction is to an ingredient that is present in all booster shots. If you have ever had a booster shot without a reaction your risk is significantly reduced.

The typhoid shot is pretty reasonable priced under a hundred maybe even under $50 I can't remember. No more than $100 though.

I agree with Gordon in that if you can't afford this don't let it get in your way.

[JimDunlop2]

Both the CDC and Canada gov't websites are overly cautious when it comes to immunizations... But if you read through the material carefully, you will notice that there isn't a whole lot required for Japan.

If you plan to travel outside of Japan during your stay, you may wish to be up-to-date with all your shots, but Hep A, Hep B., typhoid, even Japanese Encephalitis are generally not necessary for most individuals.


MDTravelHealth.com http://www.mdtravelhealth.com/destinations/asia/japan.html has things broken down by country. The following is an excerpt from the site. Bold highlight is mine.

Summary of recommendations [Japan]:

No special immunizations or medications are necessary for most trips to Japan. Japanese encephalitis vaccine is recommended for long-term travelers to rural areas or travelers who may engage in extensive unprotected outdoor activities in rural areas, especially in the evening, during shorter trips.

Also, links to the CDC and Canadian gov't sites on the subject, although they are a lot less specific because they break things down by general region and don't take into account specific countries. Japan is a notable exception among other East Asian countries when it comes to many diseases common to its neighbours.

CDC
http://www.cdc.gov/travel/eastasia.htm
Canadian site:
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/tmp-pmv/236_e.html

[Gordon]