General News
18 November, 2025
Vaccine available to combat encephalitis
FREE Japanese encephalitis vaccine will again be available to Loddon residents this summer.
Loddon Shire is one of 24 local government areas part of the State Government’s program.
Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas said she wanted Victorians to understand the risks of mosquito-borne diseases and to take simple steps to protect themselves from mosquito bites while enjoying more time outside over the warmer summer months.
Most people with JEV infection do not have symptoms or have only mild symptoms such as a fever, headache, nausea, vomiting and muscle aches.
However, a small number – around one in every 250 people – can develop severe infection of the brain (encephalitis) or meningitis which can be fatal. A mosquito surveillance program is helping track the presence of diseases in mosquitoes across Victoria, providing an early warning system to protect the public.
“We are again making the JEV vaccine available for those Victorians most at risk, keeping communities safe from this preventable mosquito-borne disease,” Ms Thomas said.