Editorial | Vaccine void
Summary
Japanese Encephalitis remains a leading cause of death in Nepal with recent spikes in infections and deaths due to vaccine procurement delays despite availability of funding.
Key Points
- Japanese Encephalitis is the leading cause of death among vector-borne diseases in Nepal, with recent increases in cases and fatalities.
- Nepal introduced JE vaccination in 2006 and integrated it into routine immunisation in 2015, but many over 15 years remain unvaccinated and vulnerable.
- Current efforts to launch a vaccination drive are hindered by lack of funding despite unspent health budgets and attempts to secure external support.
- Avoiding mosquito bites alone is insufficient; urgent vaccination of at-risk populations is necessary to reduce JE infections and deaths.
