Getting up to date vaccination in Japan

[William]

Hi everyone,

I’d like to ask for some advice or insights from fellow forum users about something that’s been on my mind for a while.

As a child, I remember frequent visits to the doctor for vaccinations—though the only ones I clearly recall are tetanus and hepatitis B. Of course, I’m sure I received all the necessary vaccines at the time.

However, aside from the COVID-19 vaccines, I haven’t had any vaccinations since then. I have a vague memory that some vaccines need periodic boosters, even if only once every 10 years.

How does this work in Japan? Can I simply visit a doctor and ask for any recommended vaccines? An online search led me to this website, but it seems focused on children—I assume the vaccination schedule is similar to what I had growing up in my home country.

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance.

[Tkydon]

Tetanus needs boosting every 10 years or so. It is a good idea to ask when you go to the doctor about other things.

Recently, Japan had a round of testing and boosting for (i think) Measles - Hashika - for adults.
They sent two vouchers; one for an Immunity Test, and one for vaccination in case you failed the immunity test.

Influenza Vaccinations are available every year for the expected most prevalent strain of the year, planned in March and shipped in around October/November.
Influenza is a rapidly mutating and evolving virus. It takes 6 months to prepare the vaccine stock, but Anti-Vaccer RFK Jr. just cancelled this year's Planning Committee Meeting of the CDC, so it is not clear what will happen this coming Flu Season, or if the Pharma companies will have time to prepare vaccines.
Of course, a strain other than the expected one could emerge in the time after the planning of the vaccine, which would not have been vaccinated against... Still, vaccination is recommended to immunize against known strains. Your Health Insurance Provider may provide a Discount Voucher.

As for the rest, you should probably go to your preferred Internal Medicine - Naika - or General Clinic, and ask about vaccinations there.

[William]

Thank you!

[Roger Van Zant]

I went to a Japanese clinic and asked for a tetanus booster, and they have no idea what I was talking about.
That was pretty alarming.
Thankfully I found a foreign doctor and was able to discuss the issue with him.

[William]

Thankfully I found a foreign doctor and was able to discuss the issue with him.

Based on your published location, I don't assume this doctor is in Tokyo?

[mitch]

Can I simply visit a doctor and ask for any recommended vaccines?

A physician might wish to inquire about your medical history. Gathering some information about immunization regimens in your home country, or if possible, roughly compiling your personal vaccination history might help speed the conversation.

If you live in an area with many mosquitos and/or plan to spend lots of time outdoors, it might be worth asking about a Japanese encephalitis 日本脳炎 nihon nouen vaccination. My understanding is that infections with serious complications are rare in Japan, but they do occur.

[captainspoke]

Shingrix is one I'd suggest, if you're a little older. Many clinics can give it, but you'll need to reserve a few days ahead of time. It's two shot sequence a few weeks apart, about ¥20-22K/per shot.

Also Pneumovax, one shot, every 10(?)yrs.

I don't think japanese encephalitis is much of a worry in japan, even tho it was first ID'd here (late 1800s), and especially not if you're in an urban area. If you're traveling to the rest of asia then the risk would be higher.

***

Minor trivia: I worked in TB control long ago in south korea (peace corps), giving PPDs to kids (1st and 6th graders, along with a one-minute health talk), and then the health center staff would give BCGs a couple days later, depending on those results. Also did sputum collection and testing. Another function was to get patients to stick with the drug regimen--symptoms would disappear after a month, usually two, and they'd stop coming for the free meds. And the TB would come back, and they'd come back for more meds. There were a lot of patient cards of people who had gone thru that cycle more than a few times (but, drug resistance). My group also cross-trained for leprosy, but nobody ended up doing that (a week at Carville, LA, which was an actual leprosarium then, then later a week at a small island (Seolak-do) off the south coast of korea).

I got lots of shots on induction in the army, and then in peace corps they took those seriously, too. Eg, a cholera booster every four months, among others. This was the era of the yellow International Vaccination Booklets. Much later, '85, I neglected to keep everything up to date, and in nepal caught typhoid fever. Oops.

If you want some interesting but dated reading on disease and its impact, look for Rats, Lice, & History, by Hans Zinsser. Easy/fun reading, and very entertaining.

[AreTheyTheLemmings?]

I cannot hear or read the word...

tetanus

...without immediately bursting into song: "Still it aches like tetanus, it reeks of politics."
https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DX9eap_cKLP4

[TokyoWart]

Shingrix is one I'd suggest, if you're a little older. Many clinics can give it, but you'll need to reserve a few days ahead of time. It's two shot sequence a few weeks apart, about ¥20-22K/per shot.

Also Pneumovax, one shot, every 10(?)yrs.

...

If you want some interesting but dated reading on disease and its impact, look for Rats, Lice, & History, by Hans Zinsser. Easy/fun reading, and very entertaining.

+1 on both the Shingrix vaccine and Zinsser's book.

[William]

Thank you all!