Trevor James
There are misconceptions about vaccination policies in Japan, with some believing that the country does not vaccinate children until they turn two years old. However, this is not true. Japan has a comprehensive vaccination program, and the Japan Pediatric Society recommends several vaccines for children under two, including polio, tuberculosis, and measles/rubella. The country also has an Immunization Act that categorizes immunizations into routine and voluntary, with specific vaccination periods and schedules outlined by law. While vaccine hesitancy is a phenomenon observed in Japan, leading to lower-than-expected vaccination rates among certain groups, the country actively promotes childhood immunizations, and vaccination rates in infancy are extremely high.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Vaccination before the age of two | Several vaccines are recommended for children under the age of two, including polio, tuberculosis, measles/rubella, BCG, DPT, mumps and varicella. |
| Vaccination schedule | The Immunization Act stipulates the vaccination schedule, with prescribed vaccination periods. Vaccinations are deemed "voluntary" if they are administered before or after the stipulated period or if the schedule is not followed. |
| Vaccination rates | Japan has high vaccination rates in infancy, but vaccine hesitancy and failure of public awareness campaigns have prevented rates from rising as expected, especially among adolescents. |
| HPV vaccination rate | The HPV vaccination rate in Japan is extremely low compared to other countries, with only 0.3% of women aged 15 vaccinated as of 2019. |
| COVID-19 vaccination | Japan has a growing interest in immunization and vaccination policy due to the pandemic. |
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What You'll Learn
- Japan's infant vaccination rates are high, with several vaccines recommended before age two
- Vaccines include polio, tuberculosis, measles/rubella, BCG, DPT, and more
- The Immunization Act defines the vaccination period, schedule, and procedures
- Vaccinations are classified as routine or voluntary under this act
- There is vaccine hesitancy in Japan, with lower HPV vaccination rates than other countries
Japan's infant vaccination rates are high, with several vaccines recommended before age two
It is a common misconception that Japan does not vaccinate children until they are two years old. In fact, Japan's infant vaccination rates are high, and several vaccines are recommended before the age of two. According to the Japan Pediatric Society, vaccines against polio, tuberculosis, measles, and rubella are recommended for children under two. Other vaccines, such as the DPT-IPV vaccine (which combines inoculation against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, and polio), are also routinely administered to infants in Japan.
The high infant vaccination rates in Japan can be attributed to mass inoculations at health centers. For example, it was found that 85.4% of children received two doses of the polio vaccine before their second birthday. Similarly, 82.2% of infants were inoculated with BCG before their first birthday. However, it is important to note that Japan has experienced challenges with vaccine hesitancy, where individuals hesitate or refuse to vaccinate themselves or their children. This has resulted in routine immunizations being delayed or not provided as scheduled.
The timing of infant vaccinations in Japan is carefully planned and regulated. The Immunization Act stipulates the prescribed vaccination periods and schedules, with Japanese law defining all ages in accordance with the Act for Age Counting and Article 143 of the Civil Code. Under this regulation, a person is considered one year older on the day before their birthday. For example, a child born on October 9 would be defined as three months old from January 8 of that year until April 8.
In addition to the prescribed vaccination periods, there are recommended vaccination periods. For example, the DPT-IPV vaccine is recommended to be administered between 5 and 8 months of age. Parents are advised to follow the recommended schedule as closely as possible, as deviating from the stipulated vaccination period or schedule may result in the vaccination being deemed "voluntary," with associated costs and reduced access to compensation for any adverse side effects.
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Vaccines include polio, tuberculosis, measles/rubella, BCG, DPT, and more
In Japan, several vaccines are recommended for children under the age of two, including polio, tuberculosis, measles/rubella, and others. The country's vaccination program includes the Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine (IPV), which has been a part of its public immunization program since 2012. This vaccine is administered to protect against acute flaccid poliomyelitis, commonly known as infantile paralysis, and has contributed to the significant reduction of polio cases worldwide.
Japan has also taken steps to address adverse reactions to the DTP vaccine, which became a social issue in 1975. The development of a new acellular pertussis vaccine has reduced adverse reactions and helped increase immunization acceptance to 80% in 1982.
Regarding tuberculosis, there was a controversy in 2018 when arsenic was detected in the BCG vaccine solution. This prompted the Japanese health ministry to issue an official complaint, highlighting the concerns of medical professionals and the public.
In terms of measles and rubella, Japan introduced a combination measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine in 1989 for children aged 1 to 6 years. However, due to reports of serious adverse effects, the government withdrew its recommendation in 1993. Since 2006, a measles and rubella vaccine (MR) has been provided free of charge to children aged 1 year and 5 to 6 years.
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The Immunization Act defines the vaccination period, schedule, and procedures
It is not true that Japan does not vaccinate children until they are two years old. In fact, the Japan Pediatric Society recommends several vaccines for children under the age of two, including those against polio, tuberculosis, and measles/rubella.
The Immunization Act in Japan defines the vaccination period, schedule, and procedures. The City of Hiroshima, for example, provides routine vaccinations as prescribed by the Immunization Act. The Act stipulates the vaccination periods, schedules, and procedures that must be followed. If parents choose to vaccinate their child before or after the stipulated vaccination period, or if they do not follow the vaccination schedule (inoculation intervals and number of doses), the vaccination will be deemed "voluntary". In such cases, they will be responsible for the full cost of the vaccines and may not be eligible for compensation under the Immunization Act if their child experiences adverse side effects.
All ages in the Immunization Act are defined in accordance with the Act for Age Counting and Article 143 of the Civil Code. Under these regulations, a person is considered one year older on the day before their birthday. For example, a child aged 3 to 90 months old is defined as someone whose age spans from the day before their third birthday to the day before their seventh birthday.
The prescribed vaccination period was changed from "before 6 months old" to "before 1 year old" as of April 1, 2013. The recommended vaccination period was also adjusted from "from 3 to 6 months old" to "from 5 to 8 months old."
Additionally, the varicella vaccination has been a routine vaccination since October 1, 2014. The schedule for this vaccination depends on the child's age and their vaccination history.
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Vaccinations are classified as routine or voluntary under this act
It is not true that Japan does not vaccinate children until they are two years old. Several vaccines are recommended for children under the age of two, including polio, tuberculosis, and measles/rubella. The Japan Pediatric Society recommends these vaccinations.
In Japan, vaccinations are classified as either "routine" or "voluntary" under the Immunization Act. This law is enforced to prevent the outbreak and spread of potentially contagious diseases. There are two types of diseases that fall under this act: Class A and Class B. Class A diseases focus on group prevention and the prevention of serious diseases, while Class B diseases focus on individual prevention. For Class A diseases, the government actively recommends vaccination, and the guardian is obliged to make an effort to vaccinate. For Class B diseases, the guardian is not obliged to vaccinate.
The City of Hiroshima provides routine vaccinations as prescribed by the Immunization Act. These vaccinations are provided free of charge and are listed in tables on the Hiroshima City website. The prescribed vaccination periods, schedules, and procedures are determined by Japanese law. If a guardian chooses to vaccinate their child before or after the stipulated vaccination period or does not follow the vaccination schedule, the vaccination will be deemed "voluntary." In these cases, the guardian will be responsible for the full cost of the vaccines, and they may not be able to receive compensation under the Immunization Act if their child experiences adverse side effects.
It is recommended to follow the vaccination schedule as closely as possible. When taking a child for vaccination in Hiroshima, it is necessary to bring the Maternal and Child Health Handbook and a document that can be used as proof of address and age, such as a Health Insurance Card.
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There is vaccine hesitancy in Japan, with lower HPV vaccination rates than other countries
There are several vaccines recommended for children under the age of two in Japan. These include vaccines against polio, tuberculosis, and measles/rubella. The prescribed vaccination period for some vaccines was changed from "before 6 months old" to "before 1 year old" in 2013.
Japan has been reported as a country with high levels of vaccine hesitancy, especially among younger people and women. Factors associated with vaccine hesitancy include concerns about vaccine safety, suspicion of vaccine inefficacy, mistrust of the government, and low perceived threat. This hesitancy has also been observed with the HPV vaccine, which is used to prevent cervical cancer.
In June 2013, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare (MHLW) suspended its recommendation for the HPV vaccine due to concerns about vaccine-related adverse events (AEs). As a result, the rate of the new target population receiving at least one of three doses of the HPV vaccine declined from over 70% to 0.3% in 2016. This is significantly lower than the reported rate of AEs from the quadrivalent HPV vaccine in the US, which was 327/million doses between 2009 and 2015.
Recently, there has been an increase in the number of HPV vaccine doses delivered to healthcare facilities in Japan, which may be due to governmental efforts to provide information about the vaccine to the eligible population and their caregivers, as well as local educational programs. The increase in COVID-19 vaccination coverage may have also contributed to lessening vaccine hesitancy in Japan. However, the HPV vaccination rate is still lower than the sufficient level of 90% recommended by the World Health Organization. Continued communication and education about the long-term preventive benefits of the HPV vaccine are essential to achieving optimal coverage.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Japan does vaccinate children before they turn two years old. According to the Japan Pediatric Society, several vaccines are recommended for children under two, including polio, tuberculosis, and measles/rubella.
According to a study, 82.2% of children had been inoculated with BCG before their first birthday, and 85.4% were given two doses of the polio vaccine before their second birthday.
There is a phenomenon known as "vaccine hesitancy," where people hesitate or refuse to vaccinate themselves or their children. This has led to delays in routine immunizations. Additionally, media reports and lawsuits have, on occasion, resulted in the reconsideration of immunization policies.
There are no routinely recommended intervals between vaccine doses. However, for live vaccines, a minimum interval of 27 days between injections is advised.
