I want you to hear ... the rubella story ... February 12, 20:27

Can you hear ... I'm calling directly to your heart now for a man between the ages of 40 and 47 ... Do you have a rubella antibody test ... Isn't a free coupon received from the municipality ... The coupon is not indefinite is…. (Reporter, Network News Department Daisuke Narita, Shinichiro Kuninaka)

Unused coupons

16.1%. In other words, only one in six people.
This is the percentage of people who received a rubella antibody test using a free coupon that began to be distributed this year. (* As of the end of November last year)

A rubella that can affect the fetus through the mother's body as well as symptoms such as fever.
It is said to be more contagious than the flu and is not as epidemic as it used to be, but infections are still being seen.

In the past, spring and summer were the epidemic season, but it is difficult to predict when the epidemic will begin, as the peak season for adults (2018) peaks after autumn.

Rubella has spread to 33 people nationwide as of February 5 this year, and last month a 0-year-old boy was affected by his mother's infection, affecting his heart, eyes and ears. Rubella Syndrome ".

If you have had rubella or been vaccinated in the past, you may have enough antibodies.
The problem is the uncle generation who has never been vaccinated.

When a man between the ages of 40 and 57 was a child, no official vaccinations were given.

For this reason, this year, the government began distributing coupons to men aged 40 to 47 for free antibody testing through local governments this year.
(People aged 48 to 57 can also get a coupon if they wish. Coupons will be sent to those aged 48 to 53 after April.)

I tested it with a coupon

It was July last year that a coupon for antibody testing arrived from the local government under our boss, Y Desk (45).

Y Desk never remembers whether he had rubella as a child.
He told his parents that he didn't know, "It took me some water."

Immediately, I checked the medical institutions where the tests could be taken online and went to a nearby clinic.
The test was as simple as taking blood.

And one week to wait while haze.

The result was “antibody titer 11.4”.
In other words, he explained that there was enough antibody and that vaccination was not required.
(By the way, when vaccinating, many municipalities seem to be free to pay the first time and pay their own if you want to vaccinate the second time)
It's just my personal impression, but I feel refreshed after being tested.

Ask in town

However, only one in six people was tested.
Most people have not been tested.

We started on the street to find out why.

I searched for a man between the ages of 40 and 47 for a lunch break in Shibuya, a city for young people.

They asked if they had an antibody test, or did not know the existence of the test or coupon, or put a sticker on the answer.

Here is the result.

Only 17 people answered.
４ "I received" four people,
９ 9 people who have not received
▽ "I don't know" was 4 people.

Of course, it is not a statistical survey, so it is not an accurate number, but including "I do not know", I found that a certain percentage of people were not tested.

And ask why ...

"I know I'm the target (of that generation), but it's cumbersome."

He knew about rubella or that antibody testing could be done for free, but he had not taken it.

Some respondents said, "I wear a mask, but I don't care about other precautions."

The coupon is due soon! ?

Some coupons also say "The expiration date is March 31, 1980."
Do you give up saying "I can't make it anymore" or "I lost it"?

According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, it has been decided that the expiration date of the coupon will be extended, and that after April, the coupon will be inspected as it is now.
In addition, even if you lose your coupon, you can have it reissued by applying to the local government.

It seems that coupons will be distributed in principle for three years from this year, but the rest has not been decided yet.

Did you think companies would do it?

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has set a goal of having 4.8 million antibodies tested until July, that is, in less than six months.
However, it has not yet reached a quarter.

Initially, we expected that companies throughout the country would conduct coupon-based tests in conjunction with regular medical examinations, but when we started, the response seemed to be mixed.

It is another half a year before the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, where people from all over the world gather and infectious disease control becomes more important.
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare launched measures to strengthen measures last month.
For example, a large company was asked to determine the person in charge, conduct a group antibody test at a health check-up or another opportunity, and report the number of people tested to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

“Think of pregnant women and babies”

Where rubella is difficult is where 15-30% of people have no symptoms.
If you wait for the company's response, you may spread the infection to people around you without your knowledge.

A Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare official said, "If you don't have enough antibodies to carry out tests, vaccinations can help prevent rubella from spreading. For yourself, for pregnant women and newborn babies. I want people around me to think about it. "

Everyone who thinks "I'll go someday" but stays that way.
Why don't you come here soon?