Japan Eyeing Free Rubella Vaccination for Adult Men

November 27, 2018

Tokyo--Japan's health ministry is considering free rubella vaccination for men in their 30s to 50s, with men in the age groups accounting for a large portion of patients in the ongoing outbreak of the infectious disease in the country, it has been learned.

The ministry plans to include men in the age brackets in the range of people eligible for the nation's routine rubella vaccination program, informed sources said.

The steps are intended to prevent the spread of infections. The number of men aged 30-59 who have rubella antibodies is relatively low.

The ministry has decided to cover the costs for rubella antibody tests for men in their 30s to 50s with public funds and sought related funds under the government's fiscal 2019 budget.

Two doses of vaccine are said to be effective in preventing rubella infections. But many men in their 30s to 50s did not have opportunities to get vaccinations under the routine program.

At a press conference Tuesday, health minister Takumi Nemoto said his ministry will study measures to combat the current rubella outbreak under the government's planned second supplementary budget for fiscal 2018.

The ministry is expected to draw up specifics after discussions at a relevant advisory council on Thursday.

Nemoto said that the ministry is in talks with vaccine makers on a possible increase in production, with an eye on the planned inclusion of men in their 30s to 50s in the routine vaccination program.

The makers told the ministry that they can increase vaccine production to a certain extent, according to the minister. Jiji Press