This April, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare will introduce a new legal requirement for the ``5-type mixed vaccine,'' which combines the 4-type mixed vaccine for children to prevent pertussis and tetanus with the addition of Hib infections that cause pneumonia. We have decided to carry out vaccinations as part of routine vaccinations.
The four-way combination vaccine that children receive is to prevent pertussis, tetanus, diphtheria, and polio, and is given starting at 2 months of age.
At an expert subcommittee meeting of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare held on the 5th, the ``5-type vaccine'', which is a 4-type vaccine plus Hib infection that causes pneumonia and meningitis, was considered a routine vaccination under the law. It was agreed to do so.
Children from 2 months to 7 and a half years old are eligible for routine vaccinations, and a total of 4 vaccinations are given at regular intervals, including the initial vaccination and booster vaccination.
The Hib vaccine is still routinely administered as a single vaccine, but including the 4-dose combination vaccine, a total of 8 vaccinations are required, making schedule management an issue. It is expected that this will reduce the number of vaccinations required.
Regular vaccination of the five-type combination vaccine will be carried out from April this year.