Travel Clinic
Japanese Encephalitis Vaccination
For longer stays and rural travel in parts of Asia where this rare but serious infection is present.
- Doses
- Two dose course
- When to finish
- Finish 7 days before travel
- Who it is for
- From 2 months of age
- When to book
- Book at least 6 weeks ahead
About this service
Japanese encephalitis is a rare but serious viral infection found in rural parts of Asia, spread by mosquitoes that bite mainly between dusk and dawn. It is not a risk for most holidaymakers, but for travellers spending longer in rural areas, particularly near rice paddies and pig farming, vaccination is worth considering. At Berkeley Pharmacy our travel clinic offers Japanese encephalitis vaccination after a detailed risk assessment that looks at your exact itinerary.
Because the course is two doses and needs to be finished at least a week before you travel, we recommend booking at least six weeks ahead where possible. We welcome travellers from across Gloucestershire, including Dursley, Cam, Stroud and Thornbury, and we will always give you an honest recommendation, including telling you if we do not think you need this vaccine for your trip.
What Japanese encephalitis is
Japanese encephalitis is a viral infection spread by Culex mosquitoes, which bite mainly between dusk and dawn and breed in rice paddies and around pig farming. It is found in rural parts of South Asia, South East Asia and the Far East, with transmission usually seasonal and linked to the rainy season.
Infection is rare in travellers, but when the brain is affected the illness is severe, with a high risk of death and of permanent neurological problems in those who survive. There is no specific treatment, so bite avoidance and vaccination are the only protection. The course is two doses 28 days apart, with an accelerated schedule of two doses seven days apart available for adults aged 18 to 64. The course should be completed at least seven days before travel. It is licensed from two months of age, and a booster is usually given between 12 and 24 months for those at continued risk.
Who this service is for
Suitable for
- Travellers spending a month or more in rural risk areas during the transmission season
- Shorter trips that include a lot of time outdoors, camping, cycling or trekking in rural areas
- People staying near rice fields or pig farms
- Expatriates and long term residents
- Anyone travelling repeatedly to affected areas
Not suitable for
- Babies under two months
- Previous severe allergic reaction to this vaccine or its ingredients
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding unless specifically advised after a risk discussion
- Anyone currently unwell with a high temperature
- The accelerated seven day schedule is only for adults aged 18 to 64
How it works
A simple, consistent process for every service at Berkeley Pharmacy.
Get in touch
Call us or use our contact form to arrange a consultation.
Consultation
A private, face-to-face appointment with our pharmacist in our Berkeley consultation room.
Clinical assessment
We review your medical history and confirm whether the service is suitable for you.
Treatment or referral
If it is suitable we treat you the same day; if not, we explain why and advise on the best next step.
What to expect at your appointment
Your appointment begins with a detailed travel health risk assessment looking at your exact destinations, rural time, accommodation and season, because this vaccine is not needed for every trip to Asia. We then give you an honest recommendation, including telling you if we do not think you need it.
- The injection is given into your upper arm
- Your second appointment is booked before you leave
- A written record and, with your consent, a note to your GP
Aftercare and safety
Headache, muscle aches, tiredness and a sore arm are the usual effects and settle within a day or two. Bite avoidance is essential even after vaccination, so use a repellent containing DEET, cover up between dusk and dawn, and sleep under a treated net or in a screened, air conditioned room.
- Seek urgent medical help for fever with headache, confusion, neck stiffness or seizures during or after travel, and always say where you have been
Frequently asked questions
Do I need the Japanese encephalitis vaccine for a two week holiday in Thailand?
For most short holiday stays in cities and main tourist areas, the risk is very low and the vaccine is not usually recommended. It is considered for travellers spending a month or more in rural risk areas, or shorter trips with a lot of outdoor time in rural areas. We will assess your exact itinerary before advising.
How many doses are needed and how far apart?
The standard course is two doses 28 days apart. An accelerated schedule of two doses seven days apart is available for adults aged 18 to 64 travelling at short notice. The course should be completed at least seven days before travel, so we recommend booking at least six weeks ahead where possible.
Is there an accelerated course?
Yes, an accelerated schedule of two doses seven days apart is available for adults aged 18 to 64. It is designed for last minute travel, although the standard 28 day schedule is preferred when there is time. We will advise on which fits your departure date.
How long before travel do I need to finish the course?
The course should be completed at least seven days before travel, so your immunity has time to develop. Because the two doses are 28 days apart in the standard schedule, we recommend booking at least six weeks ahead where possible. Please still get in touch if your trip is sooner.
Do I still need insect repellent after the vaccine?
Yes. Bite avoidance is essential even after vaccination, because the same mosquitoes can carry other infections and no vaccine is completely effective. Use a repellent containing DEET, cover up between dusk and dawn, and sleep under a treated net or in a screened, air conditioned room.
Which countries carry a Japanese encephalitis risk?
It is found in rural parts of South Asia, South East Asia and the Far East, with transmission usually seasonal and linked to the rainy season. We will talk through the risk for your specific destinations and the time of year you are travelling as part of your assessment.
How we can supply treatment without a GP appointment
Some treatments at Berkeley Pharmacy are supplied under a Patient Group Direction, or PGD – a written instruction, signed by a doctor and a pharmacist, that legally allows our trained pharmacists to supply and administer specified medicines to people who meet defined clinical criteria, without a prescription from your GP. If you do not meet the criteria set out in the PGD we cannot supply the treatment, and we will explain why and advise you on the best next step. Our pharmacists also work as independent prescribers where that is appropriate.
Serving Berkeley and the surrounding Gloucestershire villages
Berkeley Pharmacy is on Market Place in the centre of Berkeley, with easy access from junctions 13 and 14 of the M5. We welcome patients from Berkeley, Sharpness, Newport, Berkeley Heath, Alkington, Ham, Stone and Rockhampton, and we are a short drive from Cam, Dursley, Slimbridge, Cambridge, Falfield, Charfield, Tortworth, Cromhall, Oldbury-on-Severn, Wotton-under-Edge, Thornbury, Frampton on Severn and Stonehouse. Patients also travel to us from Stroud, Nailsworth, Yate, Chipping Sodbury, Tetbury and Gloucester.
Safe, regulated care from your local pharmacy team
- Berkeley Pharmacy is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council. You can check any pharmacy or pharmacist on the GPhC register at pharmacyregulation.org.
- Every consultation is face to face and private, in our dedicated consultation room – not an online questionnaire.
- Serving the Berkeley community for over 25 years.
- This service does not replace care from your GP. With your consent we will inform your GP of any treatment provided. If you are unwell, have new or worsening symptoms, or need urgent care, contact your GP or NHS 111, and in an emergency call 999.
- If you experience a side effect from any medicine you can report it through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme at yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk.
Page last reviewed: September 2026. Next review due: September 2027.
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Find out moreSpeak to our pharmacy team about japanese encephalitis vaccination
Visit us in Berkeley or get in touch to arrange a private consultation with our pharmacist.
Book a consultation Call 01453 810316
Address
14 Market Place, Berkeley, GL13 9BB
Opening hours
Mon–Fri 9am–6pm (closed 1–2pm)
Sat 9am–1pm
Sun Closed