Local governments nationwide are boosting subsidies for influenza vaccinations -- and in some cases making the shots free -- that are scheduled to start on Oct. 1.
The push to encourage more people to be vaccinated has been propelled by concerns that this year's seasonal flu could coincide with a wave in new coronavirus cases as winter approaches, which could severely strain the nation's medical care system.
The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry is calling for elderly people and other groups at high risk of becoming seriously ill to be given priority for flu shots.
Based on the immunization law, municipal governments have subsidized the cost of flu vaccinations for people aged 65 or older and other groups. This year, more local governments are covering part of the vaccination cost for other demographics or boosting their subsidies.
During an ordinary assembly meeting this month, the local government of Oyama, Tochigi Prefecture, submitted a draft budget that would subsidize vaccinations for elderly people and also for children aged up to 15 and pregnant women. A written request from a local medical association prompted this subsidy expansion. "The vaccination rate must be increased to prevent medical facilities from being overwhelmed by the simultaneous spread of influenza and coronavirus," said the association, which was concerned by the possibility of mass infections among children at elementary schools and other places, and by the fact that pregnant women have a weaker immune system.
Three nearby municipalities covered by the association are taking similar steps to Oyama.
Utsunomiya, the municipality with the highest number of infections in Tochigi Prefecture, will broaden financial support to vaccinations for people of all ages. The city government earmarked 504 million yen in a draft budget to subsidize part of these vaccination costs. Chiba City also plans to cover part of the vaccination costs for all its residents.
Toyama Prefecture, which has taken precautions against infections among children, will subsidize vaccinations for elementary school students and younger children. In the same prefecture, cities including Toyama, Takaoka, Tonami, Oyabe and Nanto have set the ball rolling on boosting vaccination subsidies.
Prefectural governments, including those of Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Yamanashi, Aichi and Osaka, have gone a step further by making flu shots free for elderly people. In addition to subsidies from the city, ward, town or village level, these prefectural governments cover the remainder so the elderly, who are receiving vaccinations, are not charged.
According to the health ministry, just four cases of influenza were reported in Japan between Sept. 7 and 13 -- less than one-1,400th of the figure during the same period last year. This plunge appears to have been the result of measures widely adopted to combat the coronavirus, such as wearing masks and regular hand washing. Despite this, the ministry plans to supply enough vaccines for up to about 63 million residents, about 12% more than last year, as it braces for the coming flu season.
It is expected that increased local government subsidies for vaccinations will culminate in more people getting flu shots. The health ministry is calling on the elderly to get vaccinated from Oct. 1 and others to get their shots from Oct. 26.
"We want municipalities to make sure that those who need vaccinations have opportunities to receive them," an official of the ministry said.
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