International Health Care Clinic

International Health Care Clinic

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2017.11.10

Shortage of Infuluenza Vaccine

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Article from several newspapers, they point out a shortage of influenzas vaccine.  An outbreak of influenza begins from December every year. Because an effect of influenza vaccine shows two weeks after the shot, number of people who want to have vaccination is increased around November every year.  However, lack of the influenza vaccine is pointed out this year. By the article of the Asahi Shimbun of November 7, association of Tokyo Medical Practitioners carries out a questionnaire for 3,510 doctors of internal medicine and the pediatrics. They received answers from 744 doctors, and 65% of 744 doctors said they feel the shortage of influenza vaccine this year.  On September 15,2017, Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare Japan had already known the shortage of vaccine and informed about it. They notified it to cities and hospitals and explained about the regulation of influenza vaccine that is below.

1.One 65 years or older  2.People who between 60 and 65 years old who have limitation of daily life because of heart, kidney and respiratory disease and a function of immunity by human immunodeficiency virus.

Usually people who are over the age 13 shot 0.5ml of influenza vaccine and have second shot from 1 to 4 weeks after the first shot. However, because of the shortage of vaccine, they have only one shot except doctors decide that they need to have it twice.

On the other hand, about influenza at other countries, there are no warning message from the homepage of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Japan. If you have a plan to go abroad, please check information about influenza.

At last, there are shortage of influenza vaccine. The effect of influenza vaccine appears two weeks after the shot. If you would like to have influenza vaccine before travel, please contact medical institution near your house and recommend making appointment.