I want to know more about the various vaccinations available.
Japanese laws, including the Preventive Vaccination Act, require people to receive vaccinations as listed in the table below. Foreign residents can receive vaccinations in the municipality where they are registered. Some vaccinations are free of charge; others require a partial payment by recipients.
| Vaccinations | Age | Number of doses | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polio | 3 to 18 months | 2 doses (at a 6-week or longer interval) | |
| Diphtheria-Pertussis- Tetanus vaccine (DPT Vaccine) | 1st term Initial | 3 to 12 months | 3 doses (at 3 to 8-week intervals) |
| 1st term Additional | 12 to 18 months After 1st term Initial | 1 dose | |
| Diphtheria-Tetanus 2nd term | 2nd term | 11 to under 13 | 1 dose |
| Measles-Rubella vaccine | 1st term | 12 to 24 months | 1 dose |
| 2nd term | Preschool toddler (Oldest in kindergarten/a year before elementary school) | 1 dose | |
| 3rd term | 13 to 18 years | 1 dose | |
| Japanese encephalitis (JE) | 1st term Initial | 3 to under 7 years & 6 months | 2 doses (at a 1 to 4-week interval) |
| Additional | Allow about one year from the 1st term initial | 1 dose | |
| 2nd term | 9 to 13 years | 1 dose | |
| BCG | Under 4 who have a negative tuberculin skin test | 1 dose | |
| Influenza | 60 years or older with bad heart/lungs/ kidney and 65 years or older | 1 dose annually | |
Voluntary vaccinations
Vaccinations not listed in the above table such as chickenpox and mumps are voluntary. You can be inoculated against cholera, etc. before going abroad, which is also voluntary. Not all hospitals or clinics provide all types of vaccinations. Consult with your nearest hospital.
Inquiry: Contact the Health Section of your municipality.
| To find out which hospital to go, click on the list of hospitals providing vaccinations in Gunma. |
(Effective February 2010)
