More Territorians can now access Japanese encephalitis vaccination

The NT Government have advised that an additional 40,000 Territorians are now eligible to receive the free Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) vaccine to ensure people living in high-risk areas are protected. Eligibility for the vaccine has been expanded due to the recent detection of JEV in mosquitoes in wetlands bordering the northern Darwin suburbs and in Tennant Creek.

JEV vaccination is recommended for certain people at highest risk of infection in the NT. This includes people who work directly with mosquitoes or feral pigs through surveillance or control and management, such as environmental health officers and workers, entomologists, vets and rangers. It also includes people who live in a high risk remote area or within 10 kilometres of a positive human case.

Vaccination eligibility has now been extended to include people who live or work for a minimum of 30 consecutive days in the following Greater Darwin areas: Lee Point, Muirhead, Leanyer, Wulagi, Karama, Malak and the Darwin rural area, as well as Tennant Creek in the Barkly region.

People eligible for vaccination should call their closest vaccination provider to book a free vaccination, such as a community care centre or remote health clinic. Learn more at: nt.gov.au/human-je