Close the gap for routine mumps vaccination in Japan

Area of Science:

• * Public Health
• * Vaccinology
• * Epidemiology

Background:

• * Mumps is a vaccine-preventable illness with significant disease burden in Japan.
• * Low mumps vaccine coverage in Japan is attributed to rare cases of vaccine-induced aseptic meningitis.
• * The ongoing mumps epidemic incurs substantial financial losses, averaging 85 billion JPY annually from 2000-2016.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To review mumps epidemiology and vaccination status in Japan.
• * To discuss strategies for mitigating the mumps disease burden.
• * To evaluate the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of routine mumps vaccination in Japan.

Main Methods:

• * Review of existing literature on mumps epidemiology and vaccine safety.
• * Analysis of vaccine coverage rates and cost-effectiveness studies.
• * Examination of public acceptance and successful vaccination program models in Japan.

Main Results:

• * Despite recent improvements, mumps vaccine coverage remains below optimal levels for epidemic suppression.
• * Newly developed mumps vaccines demonstrate a significantly lower incidence of aseptic meningitis, particularly when given at one year of age.
• * Routine use of the domestic mumps vaccine is highly cost-effective, and the Japanese population shows acceptance of vaccine risks with proper information.

Conclusions:

• * The mumps vaccine is safe, effective, and cost-effective for routine use in Japan.
• * Successful vaccination programs with local government financial support exist.
• * Immediate inclusion of the mumps vaccine in Japan's routine immunization schedule is recommended to reduce disease burden.