It’s that time of year again, folks. Flu season is upon us! This will be our second flu that coincides with the COVID-19 Pandemic. Last year’s flu season was virtually non-existent, partially due to the serious masking and social distancing. This year, however, many experts are expecting the flu to be back with a vengeance. For this reason, on top of the COVID vaccines that are being rolled out across the country right now, experts are recommending that everyone in Japan get a flu shot as well.
The Ministry of Health in Japan currently reports a supply of 63 million influenza vaccines this flu season. While this is the largest supply they have ever set aside, it is still not enough to vaccinate Japan’s population of over 120 million. Japan is planning to administer vaccinations in the same way they did COVID vaccinations, and will be prioritizing the same groups as the COVID vaccine.
Most of this information is not provided in English, but we at The Tokyo Life are here to help! If you are working as an ALT or JET, especially with children, you should be a priority for vaccination this season.
In this article, you’ll find:
- When you can get the flu vaccine
- Where you can get vaccinated
- How to find out if your doctor’s office is administering vaccines
The Ministry of Health’s Plan
Currently, the Ministry of Health in Japan has already begun giving the flu shot for this year. As of October 1, 2021, they started vaccinating senior citizens. They ask that senior citizens (those over the age of 65) get the vaccination first.
On October 26, 2021, the Ministry of Health began focusing their efforts on other vulnerable populations. These are the following groups they plan to focus on:
- Medical staff
- Those with pre-existing conditions
- Pregnant women
- Children aged 6 months to 7 years
If you are not in one of these groups, you should still be able to receive the vaccine, but bear in mind that someone in one of these groups may be prioritized over you. That said, especially if you work in a place where the spread of infectious diseases to high-risk people is a possibility, you may well want to make sure that you’re vaccinated.
Where Can I Get My Flu Vaccine?
This is a difficult question to answer because it depends on which ward you live in. The Japanese government distributes vaccines to individual hospitals and clinics, and it’s hard to tell which ones get the vaccine and which ones do not. Your best bet is to try to find a nearby clinic that offers the flu vaccine, especially if you are new to Japan. Hospitals in Japan may offer the flu shot, but often require a referral from a clinic to become a patient. For that reason, I recommend you focus your efforts on clinics.
If you have already gone to a hospital or clinic before, you can try contacting one you are familiar with and asking them if they’re giving the vaccine. I would recommend doing this even if you have only been to a specialized clinic. How I got my flu vaccine is a perfect example. Soon after I arrived in Tokyo this July, I got a bad ear infection and had to go to an ear, nose, and throat doctor (耳鼻咽喉: jibiinkō). This month, as flu vaccinations were ramping up, I checked their website and saw that they were offering flu vaccines. I called them, scheduled an appointment, and got the shot a week later. Often, specialized clinics will offer flu vaccinations to their patients. If you have a particular office you frequent, be sure to call and see if they offer the vaccine.
If you are new to Tokyo and feel anxious about speaking on the phone in Japanese (aren’t we all?), there are all kinds of clinics around Tokyo that offer English language services. The following are some English-speaking clinics in Tokyo that are currently offering flu vaccinations:
Clinics:
Hiroo International Clinic
American Clinic Tokyo
Roppongi Hills Clinic (accepts Japanese National Health Insurance)
Aiku Clinic (this is an obstetrician-gynecologist’s office and is primarily offering vaccines to children and expectant mothers)
The first two clinics specialize in English language patients, and an English-speaker will answer the phone if you call them. You will have to schedule your appointment in Japanese for the Roppongi Hills and Aiku Clinics, but be assured that they offer English language services once there.
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