This statement provides an update regarding possible supply limitations of Japanese encephalitis vaccine (JE-VAX®). As of June 2008, sanofi pasteur notified CDC that they now anticipate the existing inventory of JE-VAX will last through the first quarter of 2009. In order to prolong availability of the remaining supply, sanofi pasteur will continue to restrict purchase of JE-VAX to current customers and limit orders to 9 doses per month.

JE-VAX is the only Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccine licensed for use in the U.S. JE-VAX, derived from inactivated mouse brain, is manufactured by The Research Foundation for Microbial Diseases of Osaka University (Biken) and distributed in the U.S. by sanofi pasteur. In 2005, Biken discontinued production of JE-VAX. In September 2007, sanofi pasteur notified its customers that the existing inventory of JE-VAX may be exhausted by mid-2008. Since that time, sanofi pasteur has obtained additional doses of JE-VAX for use in civilian travelers.

A Biologics License Application (BLA) for a new inactivated cell culture-derived JE vaccine manufactured by Intercell was filed with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December 2007. However, this new JE vaccine is not expected to be licensed and available in the U.S. until the end of 2008.

Recommendations

• The U.S. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) currently recommends JE vaccine for travelers who plan to spend one month or longer in endemic areas. Vaccine should also be considered for shorter-term travelers whose itineraries may put them at increased risk for JE virus exposure (e.g., spending significant time in rural areas or participating in outdoor activities).

 
• In deciding whether or not to recommend JE vaccine, health-care providers should carefully consider an individual traveler’s risk by evaluating their planned itinerary and activities, and best-available information on the level of JE virus activity in the travel area.

 
• For travel to the Beijing Olympics, travelers who plan short-term visits limited to Beijing or Olympic venues in other large urban areas are at minimal risk for JE and are generally not advised to receive JE vaccine.

 
• Until the new JE vaccine is available, health-care providers who have not previously ordered JE-VAX should refer patients needing JE vaccine to providers or clinics who have previously ordered JE-VAX from sanofi pasteur (see link below).

 
• Regardless of whether they are vaccinated, all travelers should be advised to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites (e.g., use insect repellent, protective clothing, and permethrin impregnated bed nets, and stay in screened or air conditioned rooms) to reduce the risk of vector-borne infectious diseases.
  
  For Adults, see:
  • Protection Against Mosquitoes and Other Arthropods in CDC Health Information for International Travel 2008
  • What You Need to Know about Mosquito Repellents
  
  For Infants and Children, see:
  • “Insect and Other Arthropod Protection” section in Traveling Safely with Infants and Children
  • “Children” section of CDC’s Frequently Asked Questions about Repellent Use

Further Information

Contact telephone number for sanofi pasteur - 1-800-VACCINE (1-800-822-2463). Sanofi pasteur also provides the following website to assist U.S. travelers and healthcare professionals identify the nearest travel clinic: http://www.travelersvaccines.com/En/Clinics/Clinic_Locator.cfm.

For more information about JE and recommendations for JE vaccine, see the section Japanese Encephalitis in CDC Health Information for International Travel 2008 or the ACIP Recommendations for Inactivated JE Vaccine at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00020599.htm.

For more information about travel recommendations for the Olympics, see the CDC Travelers Health website at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentOlympics2008.aspx.