Dibrugarh, Oct. 16: The Assam Medical College and Hospital and Regional Medical Research Councilat Lahowal in Dibrugarh will soon conduct a largescale study on the effects of Japanese encephalitis vaccine on adults. This is for the first time in the world that such a study will be conducted. The Rs 99.8-lakh project has been approved by the World Health Organisation and the Centre. Principal-cum-chief superintendent of Assam Medical College and Hospital Pranab Baruwa said till now only Nepal and China have conducted studies on the effects of the vaccine on small groups of adults, but not on such a largescale. “Assam Medical College and Hospital and Regional Medical Research Council will do the research on 1,000 people in the Demow area of Sivasagar district. Antibody titre, which is a laboratory test that measures the presence and amount of antibodies in blood, will be studied on zero day, one month, three months and one year on these vaccinated people,” Baruwa said. “The study will establish whether immunity against the virus occurs in adults after the vaccine is injected and to what extent there is increase of antibodies. A cross section will be covered taking into cognisance age, gender and community. The results will establish whether the vaccine should be continued or discontinued in adults,” he said. Baruwa said in children below 15 years, the efficacy of the vaccine had been established beyond doubt but in adults this was yet to be established. “The study will also establish whether the vaccine has any side effects or any other untoward effect,” he added. Assam became the first state in the country to start vaccination against Japanese encephalitis among adults. The state health and education minister had flagged off the drive at Geleki in Sivasagar district on October 9. In the first phase, over seven lakh adults in Sivasagar district were proposed to be vaccinated. In Assam, over 150 Japanese encephalitis deaths were recorded this year, the maximum occurring in the Upper Assam districts. According to health department figures, 45 deaths occurred in Sivasagar, 241 cases of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) was detected in the district, of which 127 cases were detected as Japanese encephalitis-positive this year. Last year, the highest number of deaths occurred in Geleki. Adult vaccination will also be given in Kalugaon, Gaurisagar, Morabazar, Demow, Patsaku and Sapekhati, which are considered vulnerable areas within Sivasagar district.