Health Flu season hits Japan five weeks early, reaches epidemic levels

[thomas]

Japan is currently experiencing a flu epidemic, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced on 3 October. This year's flu season has started unusually early—five weeks ahead of last year—and is the second-earliest onset in the past twenty years. Health officials are urging people to protect themselves and others by frequently washing their hands, wearing masks, and getting vaccinated. Between 22 and 28 September, designated medical institutions nationwide reported 4,030 flu patients, averaging 1.04 patients per facility. This surpassed the benchmark of 1.00, which signals the official start of an epidemic.

The spread of infections has already had an impact on schools and childcare facilities. During the same reporting week, 135 institutions—ranging from nurseries and kindergartens to primary and secondary schools—closed either wholly or partially, an increase of 40 closures from the previous week and more than three times the number seen during the same period last year.

And whose fault is it?

Reiko Saito, a professor of public health at Niigata University said the early start of the flu outbreak was likely influenced by the record high number of foreign tourists visiting Japan.

Flu season begins five weeks earlier than 2024; Japan faces epidemic | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

 

[Ukigumo]

Is flu vaccination pushed in Japan? We can just walk into a pharmacist and get a flu jab and are encouraged to do so. I'm getting mine on Tuesday after the gym when my arms are pumped; the pharmacist is cute

 

[salyavin]

Ihe cost of an influenza vaccine in Japan varies by municipality, but it can range from around ¥2,500 to ¥3,960,The Japanese health ministry announced on March 15 that from April it will subsidize municipalities for the routine coronavirus inoculation for over 65s and those aged between 60 and 64 with preexisting conditions so that the copayment will be around 7,000 yen each (about $47). On the other hand, vaccinations for healthy people under the age of 65 will be treated as "voluntary" from April onward, with the full cost to be borne by the individual.

In the US with insurance flu shots are free. Current administration gets interesting but in my state any insurance covid shots are free. We got our shots last week no additional cost so low barrier.

I mention cost as some people may find that a bit much for their budget especially if retired or a family with children.

 

[Ukigumo]

I'm currently trying to find somewhere I can receive a private COVID vaccination since I'm not in the eligible category. It'll cost me £97 (¥19,620.97/$130.14) but nobody seems to have any

I was supposed to attend a show with Susie Dent but was rather nervous about sitting amongst the coughing and spluttering 'great unwashed' without a COVID vaccination. 'Fortunately' () I missed it due to unexpected traffic gridlock on the way into Exeter

 

[salyavin]

I think in Japan is 15,300 yen (roughly $100) so UK is even more, at that price most probably will not get it. $130 is a lot to most people. I am glad I can still get it for nothing with any insurance in my state.

 

[johnnyG]

Got both of mine on the 8th, so immunity might be kicking in about now. I'm an oldie (and technically 障害者, not sure if that counts). Flu was ¥1200, covid was ¥2500, using the vouchers from my city.

 

[Ukigumo]

I am glad I can still get it for nothing with any insurance in my state.

That's like saying you get your can get any damage to your car fixed for free thanks to you paying a insurance.

 

[Grandpa Frank]

I get mine free and I'm always amazed how many places offer it. Here Walmart , the grocery stores and most of the drug stores give flu & covid shots. I get my flu this Friday.

 

[Ukigumo]

I get mine free and I'm always amazed how many places offer it. Here Walmart , the grocery stores and most of the drug stores give flu & covid shots. I get my flu this Friday.View attachment 132629

A Walmart vaccination? Hmmm…confidence inspiring

 

[Grandpa Frank]

Here they have a real big pharmacy section with about 12 long rows of medical items. I believe the shot givers are RN nurses here. For covid , they used to give you a wallet card with all the info. I have a couple cards jammed with all the info still in my wallet. I get that shot next month. Covid shots seem confusing to me with at least 3 different types. I always hope I'm getting the newest & best.

 

[Ukigumo]

Here they have a real big pharmacy section with about 12 long rows of medical items. I believe the shot givers are RN nurses here. For covid , they used to give you a wallet card with all the info. I have a couple cards jammed with all the info still in my wallet. I get that shot next month. Covid shots seem confusing to me with at least 3 different types. I always hope I'm getting the newest & best.

I'm only pulling your leg.I think it's a great idea and anyone could be trained to give a subcutaneous injection. Our very large supermarket has, surprisingly, closed its pharmacy. Clearly not profitable

Does anyone know if there's much 'vaccine suspicion' in Japan? I live in Devon where, in the 60s, many alternative people decided to live. Thus we have a population with alternative ideas about conventional, effective medicine

 

[thomas]

Does anyone know if there's much 'vaccine suspicion' in Japan? I live in Devon where, in the 60s, many alternative people decided to live. Thus we have a population with alternative ideas about conventional, effective medicine.

The usual culprits... mainly conspiracy theorists, but not only (see PDF below). Sanseito has only recently started to mute some of its conspiracy theories:

Sanseito leader Sohei Kamiya won his Upper House seat in 2022, garnering 1.76 million votes in the proportional representation system. It was the party's first Diet seat, founded two years earlier. During the election campaign, Kamiya called for the freedom not to wear masks and not to vaccinate amid the COVID-19 pandemic. "Sanseito Q&A book basic edition," a pamphlet compiled by Kamiya shortly before the election, said: "Those forces that aim to make huge profits are actively calling for wearing masks to incite exaggerated fears of the coronavirus pandemic." "Those forces" were explained as "collectively referring to organisations centred around international financial capital affiliated with Jews."

Sanseito retains populist message after silencing vaccine stance | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Japan was ranked among the nations with the lowest levels of vaccine confidence, based on a multinational study conducted across 149 countries:

https://caprifoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Nomura-et-al.-Vaccine-Hesitancy-in-Japan-2024.pdf

 

[Ukigumo]

I thought the need for the Japanese to conform would've made them keen to be vaccinated.

 

[johnnyG]

subcutaneous injection

Covid and flu are intramuscular.

Something like the old PPD for TB testing is subcutaneous. And I probably did hundreds if not a thousand or more of these as a TB control worker in the peace corps--mostly 1st graders, but also 6th graders in schools the health center would visit.

PPD skin test: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

The PPD skin test is a method used to diagnose silent (latent) tuberculosis (TB) infection. PPD stands for purified protein derivative.

medlineplus.gov

 

[Ukigumo]

I'm now on a waiting list for a COVID vaccine. The scarcity of it is due to inadequate supplies as uptake was low last year.

 

[johnnyG]

I thought the need for the Japanese to conform would've made them keen to be vaccinated.

For that, you could read up on mask-wearing here, which has been a thing for a long time--well before covid hit, which, since masking was relatively common, it was very easily adopted even further during covid.

And then some (foreign?) news person saw/noticed that everyone was masking, articulated that, and their (and their audience's) conclusion was, "wow, the japanese are so conformist." Not a correct assessment/interpretation at all.

Probably due to my peace corps experience in TB control, I'm a vaxxer. (Oh, and since I once caught typhoid in nepal, due to a lapsed vaccination for that.)

Get your shots, folks. It's important. Our kids got the usual ones when they were small--MMR, DTP, and TB--and our grandkids have had the same series. And wow, can you believe it, miracle of all miracles, ...none of them are autistic.

 

[Ukigumo]

For that, you could read up on mask-wearing here, which has been a thing for a long time--well before covid hit, which, since masking was relatively common, it was very easily adopted even further during covid.

And then some (foreign?) news person saw/noticed that everyone was masking, articulated that, and their (and their audience's) conclusion was, "wow, the japanese are so conformist." Not a correct assessment/interpretation at all.

The types of mask I usually seen worn in Japan are virtually useful after 30 minutes. Like the old surgeons latex gloves they're supposed to be changed every 20 minutes or so in operating theatres. When I was teaching anatomy we wore vinyl gloves and soon learned to 'double glove' or else my hands stunk of formaldehyde when eating my pizza later that night

Probably due to my peace corps experience in TB control, I'm a vaxxer. (Oh, and since I once caught typhoid in nepal, due to a lapsed vaccination for that.)

I think BCG vaccinations have been reintroduced in UK schools.

Get your shots, folks. It's important. Our kids got the usual ones when they were small--MMR, DTP, and TB--and our grandkids have had the same series. And wow, can you believe it, miracle of all miracles, ...none of them are autistic.

It was once pointed out to me that if you walk around old grave yards you'll see lots of young children's names on grave stones. Then they quite abruptly disappear about the time mass childhood vaccinations was introduced!

Andrew Wakefield, the MMR/Autism fraudster should be tarred and feathered in my opinion. He's responsible for so many unnecessary deaths and childhood disabilities.