Regarding the vaccination of the new coronavirus from the next fiscal year, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has decided to require those who receive vaccination to pay part of the cost in principle, as with seasonal influenza. Next week, we will make a formal decision after hearing the opinions of experts.
It has been decided that vaccination against the new corona will be carried out at public expense in full until March next year.
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) has decided to make it a "routine vaccination" that requires people to bear part of the cost in principle, as with seasonal influenza.
Specifically, for people at high risk of becoming seriously ill, such as the elderly aged 3 and over, the government will subsidize about 65% of the cost of vaccination with the government's grant tax, and in principle, those who will be vaccinated will be required to bear part of the cost themselves.
In addition, the timing of vaccination is planned to be carried out once a year, between autumn and winter.
For those under the age of 3 who are not at high risk of becoming seriously ill, there is no government subsidy, and the policy is to vaccinate with a full self-payment or subsidy from the local government.
In addition, since the new coronavirus mutates one after another in the prevalent strains, as with influenza, we will review the vaccine strains used annually for the time being.
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare will make a formal decision after hearing the opinions of experts at a subcommittee meeting to be held next week.