Ixiaro
Ixiaro is a vaccine that lowers your risk of getting Japanese encephalitis (JE) caused by the JE virus. It's given as an injection into the muscle and is recommended for people who are at high risk of coming into contact with the JE virus.
What is Ixiaro?
What is Ixiaro used for?
- Prevention of Japanese encephalitis (JE) in adults and children 2 months of age and older
How Ixiaro works
Ixiaro is an inactivated vaccine that protects you from the Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus, which can cause a condition known as JE. The vaccine helps your body's immune system make antibodies against the virus, which will attack the virus if it ever infects your body.
Drug facts
Side effects of Ixiaro
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Pain, redness, swelling, and tenderness at injection site
- Muscle pain
- Headache
- Fever
- Diarrhea
- Feeling irritated (most commonly in children between 1 and 3 years of age)
Less Common Side Effects
- Feeling tired
- Flu-like symptoms
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Rash
Ixiaro serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Serious allergic reactions: hives, rash, shaking, itching, nausea, flushing, dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pain
The following Ixiaro side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Chills
general feeling of discomfort or illness
headache
joint pain
loss of appetite
muscle aches and pains
shivering
sweating
trouble sleeping
unusual tiredness or weakness
vomiting
Incidence not known
Burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
fainting
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Difficulty moving
muscle cramps or stiffness
swollen joints
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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Pros and cons of Ixiaro
Pros
- The only vaccine available in the United States to prevent JE
- Can be given to children as young as 2 months old
- Not made with natural rubber latex, so people with latex allergies can receive the vaccine
Cons
- Must get at least 2 injections for the primary series
- Unknown if booster doses work well and are safe in children younger than 17 years old
- Must be given by a healthcare provider
Pharmacist tips for Ixiaro
- Read the vaccine information statement for more information on Ixiaro.
- If you're traveling, check if JE vaccination is recommended for your destination.
- Make sure to keep a record of all your immunizations and show it to your provider or pharmacist before receiving any vaccine, including Ixiaro, to make sure you're receiving all your vaccines on schedule.
- After your first dose of Ixiaro, make sure to schedule or mark your second dose on your calendar to help you remember when to get your next dose. In order for this vaccine to work well, you need 2 doses, typically given 4 weeks (28 days) apart.
- Don't get Ixiaro if you're sick. Wait until you recover first. But if you're sick with only mild symptoms, such as the common cold or a low-grade fever, you can still receive Ixiaro. Ask your provider if you're not sure whether or not you need to wait to get the vaccine.
- It's common to experience symptoms, such as sore arm, headache or muscle aches (more often in adults), or fever (more often in children), right after you receive Ixiaro. These symptoms typically last a few days, but if they last longer than that, let you provider know.
- If you experience a severe reaction to Ixiaro, you or your provider can report it to the vaccine adverse event reporting system (VAERS) website or by calling 1-800-822-7967.
Common questions about Ixiaro
Ixiaro isn't recommended as a routine vaccine in the United States and isn't for everyone. It's typically only recommended for people who live, travel for at least 1 month, and frequently travel to countries where JE occurs (e.g., Asia). Ixiaro can also be considered for travelers spending less than 1 month in a country where JE occurs if they're going to be visiting rural areas and have a high risk for mosquito bites or aren't sure of their travel plans. In addition, people who work with the JE virus often (e.g., in a lab for research) are at high risk of exposure and should also receive Ixiaro. Ask your provider or pharmacist if you aren't sure if you need to receive Ixiaro.
Ixiaro lowers your risk for JE, which can be a life-threatening condition. The JE virus causing this condition is mainly found in Asia, where it's spread to people through a bite by infected mosquitoes. Early symptoms include fever, headache, and vomiting. Symptoms can progress to strange behavior, weakness, movement problems, and seizures (more commonly in children). The most severe complication is encephalitis (brain swelling), leading to sudden, severe headache, high fever, confusion, uncontrollable shaking, and even coma. Though most people who get infected have only mild symptoms or don't have symptoms at all, very few can develop encephalitis leading to death and some survivors can still have permanent brain damage. Additionally, there aren't any treatments for JE, just medications to relieve symptoms, rest, and fluids.
It's best to start your primary series of Ixiaro at least 5 weeks before traveling to countries where the JE virus is found or exposure to the JE virus, so make sure you plan accordingly. The primary series requires 2 doses given 4 weeks apart, but it's also recommended to receive the second dose at least 1 week before exposure to the JE virus. This gives your immune system enough time to make antibodies against the JE virus in case you're exposed to the virus in the near future.
We don't know how long Ixiaro can provide protection against the JE virus for. If you're 17 years or older and still at risk of exposure to the JE virus 1 year after you've completed the primary series, you can get a booster dose to strengthen your immune system against the virus.
It's not known if Ixiaro causes harm to unborn babies when given to pregnant women. The vaccine should be given to a pregnant woman only if it's absolutely necessary. If you're pregnant, don't receive Ixiaro until you've talked to your provider first.
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Risks and warnings for Ixiaro
Ixiaro can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Severe allergic reactions
As with any vaccine, there's a rare chance that you might have a severe allergic reaction to Ixiaro. Your provider might ask you to stay at the pharmacy or clinic for a short period of time after you've received your vaccine to make sure you can get proper care in case of a serious allergic reaction. Sometimes, these reactions can happen after you've already left the clinic. Get medical help right away if you notice symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as feeling faint, swelling of the face, closing of the throat, difficulty breathing, hives or rash, dizziness, shaking, nausea, or chest pain.
Lower response to Ixiaro in people with weakened immune systems
- Risk factors: Medical conditions that weaken the immune system | Taking medications that lower your immune system
Ixiaro might not work as well in people with a weakened immune system. This can put you at higher risk of JE, even after you've received the vaccine. If you have any medical conditions (e.g., HIV (human immunodeficiency disease), cancer) or take medications that weaken your immune system (e.g., high-dose corticosteroids, transplant medications, cancer medications), talk to your provider first before receiving Ixiaro.
Maintain necessary precautions
Just like all vaccines, receiving Ixiaro doesn't guarantee that you won't get infected with the JE virus. For the best protection against JE, you should receive Ixiaro as well as take all necessary precautions to avoid getting bit from an infected mosquito. A few ways to do this include using insect repellent (such as DEET, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, cover strollers and baby carriers with mosquito netting, and using air conditioning, if available.
Ixiaro dosage
Syringe| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5ml | 1 syringe | $299.90 | $299.90 |
Typical dosage for Ixiaro
Primary series (2 doses)
- The primary series consists of 2 doses, given 4 weeks (28 days) apart.
- Children ages 2 months to younger than 3 years old: Each dose is 1 injection (0.25 mL) given into the muscle by a healthcare provider.
- Adults and children 3 years or older: Each dose is 1 injection (0.5 mL) given into the muscle by a healthcare provider.
Booster dose (1 dose)
- Adults and children 17 years and older: If you've completed the primary series more than 1 year ago, you can receive a booster dose if you expect to have ongoing exposure or re-exposure to the JE virus. The booster dose is 1 injection (0.5 mL) given into the muscle by a healthcare provider for a one-time dose.
- Children younger than 17 years old: It's not known if a booster dose is safe or works well. Talk to your child's provider.
Ixiaro is injected into the thigh muscle for children 2 to 11 months of age, thigh or shoulder muscle for children 1 to 3 years old, and shoulder muscle for people 3 years and older.
Interactions between Ixiaro and other drugs
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
