According to a new study conducted by researchers from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), booster doses for children are required for long-term protection from the Japanese Encephalitis (JE) virus. The findings of the study revealed a declining trend of antibodies protecting against the JE virus after administering two doses of the SA-14-2 vaccine.

In the cross-sectional study carried out in one of the endemic areas of Uttar Pradesh, 266 kids between the ages of 2 and 10 were enrolled. Blood samples were collected from children. Furthermore, children were categorized into groups by how long (in years) it had been since they had the vaccine after two doses (5 groups with a class interval of 2 years).

In addition, the childrens parents or guardians provided written informed consent. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), followed by the micro neutralization test (MNT) and immunofluorescence assays, was used to detect the existence of anti-JEV-specific IgG antibodies in all the samples that were gathered.

The study found that after two doses of the SA-14-14-2 vaccine, anti-JEV-specific IgG antibody titers decreased in all five groups. The findings highlighted the importance of booster vaccination doses for kids living in endemic areas.