People who regularly work or spend a considerable amount of time outdoors in the Mildura region are being encouraged to consider getting vaccinated against Japanese Encephalitis (JE).
Mildura Rural City Council will host dedicated JE vaccination clinics in Mildura on Wednesday 8 November and Friday 17 November, with appointment bookings now open.
Community Health and Wellbeing Portfolio Councillor Troy Bailey said people should check the eligibility criteria and book an appointment online.
“As mosquito numbers increase in Victoria from now until late April, the risk of mosquito-borne diseases rises too,” Cr Bailey said.
“This includes Japanese Encephalitis, a rare but potentially serious infection of the brain. It is caused by a virus that can spread to humans through mosquito bites.”
Mildura Rural City Council can provide the free JE vaccine to people aged nine months or older who live in a high-risk local government area (including Mildura), AND:
- regularly spend time engaging in outdoor activities that place them at risk of mosquito bites, OR
- are experiencing homelessness, OR
- are living in conditions with limited mosquito protection (e.g. tents, caravans, dwellings with no insect screens), OR
- are engaging in outdoor flood recovery (clean-up) efforts, including repeated professional or volunteer deployments.
People who live or work at properties with pigs or are going to high-risk areas for seasonal work are also eligible for the free vaccine.
If you have already received the JE vaccine you do not need to get another dose.
Mildura Rural City Council’s JE vaccine clinics will be held in the Committee Room, upstairs at Council’s Deakin Avenue Service Centre on Wednesday 8 November from 1pm to 3pm and Friday 17 November from 9am to 12pm.
Bookings are essential and must be made online. To book an appointment and find out more about the JE vaccine visit www.mildura.vic.gov.au/JEV.
