Taking steps to avoid mosquito
bites is essential to protect yourself from JEV. Even if people
are vaccinated, they should still use precautions to protect against mosquito bites, which will also protect
them against other mosquito-borne diseases. No vaccine is 100% effective and the JE vaccine takes a few weeks to
provide protection.
Ways to protect yourself from
mosquito bites include:
- apply and regularly reapply an effective insect repellent on exposed skin, ensuring you follow the instructions on the label
- wear long, loose fitting clothing when outside
- use insecticide sprays, vapour dispensing units (indoors) and mosquito coils (outdoors) to clear rooms and repel mosquitoes from an area
- make sure accommodation, including tents, are properly fitted with mosquito nets or screens
- cover all windows, doors, vents and other entrances with insect screens
- remove any water-holding containers where mosquitoes may breed.
Effective
mosquito repellents contain diethyltoluamide (DEET), picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE).
Vaccination
Persons who wish to be vaccinated against JEV for travel purposes should visit their GP or travel medicine clinic for a private prescription.
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The WA Department of Health is currently offering free JE vaccine to eligible persons in specific areas of the Kimberley. These areas are considered to be at highest risk of JEV transmission in WA.
Eligible persons currently include Kimberley residents who meet the following criteria:
- All residents of postcode 6740: including remote Aboriginal communities and suburbs/localities of Drysdale River, Kalumburu, Mitchell Plateau, Oombulgurri, Prince Regent River, and including Wyndham.
- All residents of postcode 6770: including remote Aboriginal communities and suburbs/localities of Mueller Ranges, Ord River, Purnululu, Sturt Creek, Tanami, and including Halls Creek.
- All residents of postcode 6765: including remote Aboriginal communities and suburbs/localities of Mount Hardman and including Fitzroy Crossing.
- Residents of remote areas of postcode 6728: including remote Aboriginal communities and suburbs/localities of Camballin, Meda, Kimbolton, King Leopold Ranges, St George Ranges (excluding Derby).
- All residents of postcode 6743: including remote Aboriginal communities and suburbs/localities of Cambridge Gulf, Durack, Gibb, Lake Argyle, Warmun, and including Kununurra.
- Persons living and/or working in an eligible postcode for at least a 30-day period who spend significant time outdoors (at least 4 hours per day), for unavoidable work, recreation, education or other essential activities. This excludes those working in the mining industry.
- People who work directly with mosquitoes, and indirectly through sentinel animal surveillance systems in the Kimberley and Pilbara regions e.g. environmental health officers, entomologists, environmental consultants involved in mosquito management, rangers and park staff, and depot workers.
- diagnostic and research laboratory workers who are likely to handle live JEV.
There is limited supply of JE vaccines worldwide. Eligibility for vaccines will continue to be expanded in stages to those at highest risk of JEV infection as more vaccine becomes available.
Proof of eligibility
Types of vaccines
There are two vaccines available in Australia which are safe and effective for both adults and children.
- Imojev® – a single dose, live attenuated virus vaccine
- JEspect® (also known as Ixiaro) – a two dose, inactivated vaccine (given 28 days apart)
If you are pregnant or immunocompromised, please consult with your immunisation provider to ensure you receive the right vaccine.
Where to get vaccinated
Clinic name and location
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Contact clinic to make a booking
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Eligibility for vaccination at this service
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Balgo Health Centre
Balgo (Wirrimanu), WA 6770
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Ph: (08) 9168 8953
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Eligible persons
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Billiluna Health Centre
Billiluna (Mindibungu), WA 6770
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Ph: (08) 9168 8144
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Eligible persons
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Derby Aboriginal Health Services (DAHS)
1 Stanley St, Derby WA 6728
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Ph: (08) 9158 4200 |
Aboriginal people and current clients/patients of DAHS living in an eligible area
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Derby Community Health
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Ph: (08) 9193 3263 |
Eligible persons
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Fitzroy Crossing Community health clinic
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Ph: (08) 9166 1733 |
Eligible persons
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Halls Creek Community Health Service
70 Roberta Avenue, Halls Creek, WA 6770
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Ph: (08) 9168 9203
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Eligible persons
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Kalumburu Clinic
138 Kalumburu Boulevard, Kalumburu,
WA, 6740
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Ph: (08) 9161 4335
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Eligible persons
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Kununurra Community Health Service
96 Coolibah Drive, Kununurra, WA 6743
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Ph: (08) 9166 4321
Walk in clinic Thursdays 8.30am-3.30pm
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Eligible persons
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Kupungarri Clinic
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Ph: (08) 9191 4747 |
Kupungarri residents
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Looma clinic |
Ph: (08) 9192 9220 |
Eligible persons |
Mulan clinic
Mulan, WA 6770
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Ph: (08) 9168 8133
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Eligible persons
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Noonkanbah (Yungnora) clinic
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Ph: (08) 9191 4663 |
Eligible persons
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Ord Valley Aboriginal Health Service (OVAHS)
1125 Ironwood Drive, Kununurra, WA 6743
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Ph: (08) 9166 2200
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Aboriginal people or existing clients of OVAHS living in an eligible area but within
150km of Kununurra
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Ringers Soak clinic
Kundat Djaru Aboriginal Community, via Halls Creek WA 6770
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Ph: (08) 9168 8418
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Ringers Soak (Kundat Djaru) residents
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Wangkatjungka clinic |
Ph: (08) 9191 4755 |
Eligible persons |
Warmun clinic
Ord Street, Warmun ,WA 6743
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Ph: (08) 9166 3800
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Eligible persons
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Wunan Health and Wellbeing Centre
57 Bandicoot Drive, Kununurra, WA 6743
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Ph: (08) 9168 1001
Limited vaccine supply. Please phone the service to discuss as it may require a few
days’ notice to order vaccine.
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Current clients/patients of Wunan Health living in an eligible area.
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Wyndham Community Health Service
Minderoo Street, Wyndham, WA 6740
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Ph: (08) 9166 4321
Please phone to book an appointment.
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Eligible persons
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Yura Yungi Aboriginal Medical Service
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Ph: (08) 9168 6266
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Aboriginal people and current clients/patients of Yura Yungi Aboriginal Medical
Service living in an eligible area
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To report an adverse event following immunisation, contact the Western Australian Vaccine Safety Surveillance System (external site),
email wavss@health.wa.gov.au or phone (08)
6456 0208.
For more information about the JE vaccines, please refer to the Japanese encephalitis
virus (JEV) vaccines | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.
Further information