Moms, does have your children have the Japanese Encephalitis vaccine already? Here’s why it’s a MUST to do it as soon as possible.
What can you read in this article?
- Japanese Encephalitis symptoms and risks
- Japanese Encephalitis vaccine schedule
- Price of Japanese Encephalitis vaccine in the Philippines
Japanese Encephalitis (JE) is probably something that you’ve heard of on the news. Or maybe you learned about it after hearing about the Japanese Encephalitis vaccine. But what exactly is this disease, and what can parents do to keep their children safe?
What is Japanese Encephalitis?
In the 19th century, health care workers were at a loss as recurring encephalitis outbreaks devastated Japan. Patients suffered from fever, headaches, vomiting, weakness, movement disorders, seizures, confusion, inability to speak, paralysis, and in some cases, even death.
But what was causing these outbreaks? In 1871, the first clinical case of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) was documented in Japan. Since then, the country has suffered numerous large outbreaks of the disease.
This fatal disease quickly spread to other East and Southeast Asian countries. In Korea, the first cases of JE occurred in 1933. Cases of JE were later reported in China in 1940. In the Philippines, the earliest reports of JE cases were recorded in the early 1950’s, although JE antibodies were identified in Philippine horses as early as 1943.
According to Dr. Janette Calzada, a pediatric neurologist at Cebu Doctors University hospital, Japanese Encephalitis is a vector-borne disease, it is an infection transmitted to humans and other animals by blood-feeding anthropods. Such as mosquitoes that is caused by the Culex mosquito.
Culex mosquito is a brown-colored mosquito that breeds locally in rice fields, ground pools, water hyacinth ponds, slow streams, irrigation ditches and canals. It is a night-biting mosquito.
Due to all-year-round rainfall, the disease is common in the Philippines throughout the year. It reaches peak levels in June and July, and abates in November.
Japanese Encephalitis symptoms and complications
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists that the initial symptoms of JE often include fever, headache, and vomiting. However, over the next few days, the disease can lead to mental status changes and neurologic symptoms. Seizures are also common among children.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are almost 68,000 clinical cases of JE infections annually, resulting in 13,600 to 20,400 deaths.
Most JEV infections, do not show symptoms, but, also according to WHO, approximately 1 out of 250 infections will rapidly progress into severe complications, such as inflammation of the brain, seizures (in 66% of cases, especially children), loss of speech, disorientation, paralysis, coma, and eventually death.
Dr. Calzada cautions parents against this vector-borne illness as it can lead to serious complications like an infection in the brain. According to the doctor, a third of those who acquire this infection can have permanent disabilities, while another third dies.
“Japanese Encephalitis has a high mortality rate, which is what we refer to as rule of thirds.
This means one-third survive the infection and go on normally, one third will survive it but will have permanent disabilities and one-third will have complications that are fatal,” the doctor said in Filipino.
According to Dr. Calzada, among the ones who will have disabilities, their complication would all stem from an infection in the brain, which can lead to brain impairment and slow learning, spasticity and even epilepsy.
Of the 60,000 annual cases, 25% or around 15,000 will result in death, particularly in children. Fifty percent of or 22, 500 survivors develop permanent intellectual, behavioral, and neurological problems, such as recurring seizures, paralysis, and loss of speech.
“Some of them get bedridden and they cannot talk anymore because their brains are already injured,” she said.
“That’s why it’s better to not risk it. Just get the vaccine,” she added.
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4 things you need to know about this vaccine
1. Japanese Encephalitis vaccine
Japanese Encephalitis is a fatal disease that affects children. And currently, there is no cure for JE infections. Patients are generally hospitalized for supportive treatment as symptoms appear.
For this reason, WHO strongly recommended using the Japanese Encephalitis vaccine against the disease. In fact, they were the ones who proposed the inclusion of JE in the national immunization schedules aside from those previously given free by the government in state-health institutions.
2. Japanese Encephalitis vaccine for babies
While it has already been included in the routine vaccination schedule for children in the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) is still working on adding it to the list of free vaccines provided free to babies and toddlers by the government.
In 2019, DOH started rolling out the administration of the Japanese Encephalitis vaccine for free in babies and children in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), one of the four pilot regions in the country, where there have also been reports of rising JE cases.
“If you survive, there could be neurological side effects,”said Dr. Amelita Pangilinan from DOH-CAR, “But note that the disease can be prevented by getting vaccinated,” she added.
Pangilinan encouraged parents to bring their children to the nearest health centers to get the JE vaccine to avoid the increasing number of cases of the virus.
3. Japanese Encephalitis vaccine dose
When can my baby receive this vaccine? And how many doses?
It’s best to consult your child’s pediatrician about his immunization schedule, and when is the best time to receive the JE vaccine. However, Dr. Calzada said that children 9 months and up can get vaccinated and have a Japanese Encephalitis vaccine booster after a year. The vaccine provides protection in 9 of 10 people who receive it.
“You can vaccinate the children as young as 9 months old then you give a booster at least after a year,” she stated.
Can adults get the vaccine as well?
Yes. In fact, it would be an added protection for you and your family if everyone in the household can get vaccinated to prevent the spread of infection.
“You won’t lose anything if you get vaccinated. You gain protection,” said Dr. Calzada.
Some countries also require foreign travelers to receive the Japanese encephalitis vaccine before traveling to their place.
For those who are thinking of getting their children vaccinated with the JE vaccine through their doctors in private hospitals. The cost of one dose ranges from P3,500 to P4,000. However, you can always check with your barangay health center first for the list of vaccines that can be administered to your child for free.
4. Protection from Japanese Encephalitis
Vector-borne diseases are very common in a tropical country like the Philippines, and with Japanese Encephalitis possibly causing infection to the brain and permanent disabilities. The stakes are just too high to not take action against it.
As the medical experts stressed, the most effective way to protect yourself and your family against the disease are to get the vaccine.
Of course, it would also help to establish other preventive measures, such as applying insect repellent on exposed skin, wearing proper clothing (long-sleeves, long pants, and socks if weather permits), avoiding exposure to mosquitoes during peak feeding hours, making sure your doors and windows are well-screened, and installing bed nets.
For more information on vaccine-preventable diseases, vector-borne illnesses, and how to protect your family from them, don’t hesitate to consult your child’s pediatrician.
Updated by Camille Eusebio
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