| Abstract;In Japan, the drastic reformation implemented in 1994 has transformed the concept of preventive vaccination. This reformation indicated a change in the vaccination system from mass vaccination to individual vaccination and from compulsory (mandatory) vaccination to recommended (effort-requiring) vaccination. At the same time, the importance of promoting understanding of the possibility that vaccination may invite an unexpected health problem was pointed out. Because this revision of the vaccination system was a substantial change, a review of the details of the revised system was scheduled for a date five years later. A review conducted in 1998 pointed out importance of educating students about the role of vaccination, which will lead to a correct understanding of infectious diseases and the role of vaccinations. The importance of the collaboration between the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology was also pointed out in the promotion of the preventive vaccination system. Since 1994, the influenza vaccine has been administered on a voluntary basis, which has resulted in a significant decrease in the rate of vaccination among Japanese. Therefore, even susceptible elderly people and those at high risk of influenza frequently forego the vaccination. Thus, the necessity of influenza vaccination was to be reconsidered in the review. The physicians responsible for vaccinations are reimbursed by the medical care system and the promotion of preventive vaccination among the public is expected in the future. (author abst.) |
