Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine Acceptance and Strategies for Travelers: Insights from a Scoping Review and Practitioners in Endemic Countries
3
Issued Date
2023-11-01
Resource Type
eISSN
2076393X
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85178270637
Journal Title
Vaccines
Volume
11
Issue
11
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Vaccines Vol.11 No.11 (2023)
Suggested Citation
Asawapaithulsert P., Ngamprasertchai T., Kitro A. Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine Acceptance and Strategies for Travelers: Insights from a Scoping Review and Practitioners in Endemic Countries. Vaccines Vol.11 No.11 (2023). doi:10.3390/vaccines11111683 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/91417
Title
Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine Acceptance and Strategies for Travelers: Insights from a Scoping Review and Practitioners in Endemic Countries
Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Japanese encephalitis (JE) remains the cause of vaccine-preventable encephalitis in individuals living in endemic areas and international travelers. Although rare, the disease’s high fatality rate emphasizes the need for effective immunization. This review aims to provide updated data on the JE burden between 2017 and 2023, vaccine acceptance, and vaccine strategies for travelers. We prospectively identified studies, using MEDLINE and PubMed, published through 2023. JE incidence has decreased in local populations and remains low among travelers from non-endemic countries. The local JE risk cannot be utilized to determine traveler risk. Adult travelers naïve to JEV infection or immunization may be at potentially higher risk. The JE vaccine acceptance rates among international travelers visiting JE endemic areas range from 0.2% to 28.5%. The cost of the vaccine and low risk perception could be barriers to JE vaccination. For travelers, an accelerated two-dose regimen of inactivated Vero cell JE vaccine (JE-VC) or a single dosage of live attenuated JE vaccine (JE-LV) may be an option. In conclusion, the JE burden among residents and travelers is lower, but the risk is not negligible. Practitioners should prioritize sharing knowledge, increasing awareness, and promoting vaccinations and preventive measures to reduce tourists’ risk of JE along their journey.