*The design version of the policy recommendations has been published. (January 26, 2026)
*The English version of the policy recommendations has been published. (August 29, 2025)

Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) has released policy recommendations titled, “Reshaping Japan’s Immunization Policy for Life Course Coverage and Vaccine Equity: Challenges and Prospects for an Era of Prevention and Health Promotion”.

These recommendations revisit the fundamental principle of Japan’s immunization and vaccination programs, to prevent vaccine preventable diseases (VPD), and outline the long-term direction for future immunization and vaccine policy in Japan.

Discussion Points

Discussion Point 1: Conditions for vaccines to be included in the routine immunization schedule must be clarified and the positioning of category B and related diseases in the Immunization Act must be reviewed.

Discussion Point 2: The national government and local governments must unite in expanding immunization financing to correct disparities in immunization opportunities among municipalities or by area of residence.

Discussion Point 3: Correcting age-based disparities in immunization opportunities will ultimately require a full redesign of the immunization system that takes precedents set by local governments into account.

Discussion Point 4: Revaccination support and similar measures must be expanded to address disparities in immunization opportunities caused by disease risk.

Discussion Point 5: The functions of the Immunization and Vaccine Subcommittee and similar groups must be reinforced, and the immunization system must undergo evidence-based evaluation.

Discussion Point 6: Policy discussions must be advanced through multi-stakeholder discussions that consider immunization policy in terms of the overall health system.

For details, please view the PDF provided bottom.