Japan to encourage measles, rubella shots for Tokyo Games

August 2, 2019

Tokyo--The Japanese government has put together a program to tackle infectious diseases for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, including a plan to encourage those involved in the event to get measles and rubella vaccinations.

Through the plan, Japan hopes to prevent further spread of measles and rubella.

The government will also step up its border security, including measuring body temperature of those entering the country through thermography, to stop the invasion of new viruses.

The United States and other countries have voiced concerns over a rise in the number of people in Japan suffering from rubella or measles.

As men born between April 2, 1962, and April 1, 1979, are said to have a low rubella antibody prevalence rate, all male government workers and others in the target age group who are engaging in 2020 Games-related work requiring interactions with a large number of people will virtually be required to get combined vaccines.

The government will encourage Tokyo metropolitan government employees and people from the private sector who are involved in the Summer Games to be vaccinated as well.

Hoping to prevent congenital rubella syndrome among babies, the Japanese government will also call on pregnant women who do not have enough antibodies to refrain from unnecessary outings.

The government will not only take temperatures of people at quarantine stations, but also conduct medical interviews and examinations if needed, in order to stop the entry of viruses that do not exist in Japan, such as Ebola.

The government will also conduct tuberculosis screening before immigration checks. Jiji Press