Subsidy for the Cost of Vaccination for Shingles (Optional Vaccination)

As of April 1, 2025, the eligibility for the cost subsidy program for Vaccination against shingles (optional vaccination) will change.

In Inagi City, partial subsidies are provided for the cost of voluntary vaccination against shingles.
Please note that the shingles vaccine will become a routine vaccination under the Immunization Act starting April 2025. With this change to routine vaccination, the subsidy for voluntary vaccination in fiscal year 2025 will apply to different eligible persons than those in fiscal year 2024, so please be aware. (Please check the details below.)
In addition, voluntary Vaccination refers to vaccinations that are not based on the Vaccination Act and are administered upon the individual's request. Whether to receive the vaccination should be decided after consulting with the administering doctor and understanding its benefits and risks.

 

Subsidy for the Cost of Vaccination for Shingles (Optional Vaccination) in Fiscal Year 2025

Please check the details of the grant below.

Eligible Individuals

Those who meet all of the following conditions at the time of vaccination

1. Residents registered in Inagi City
2. People aged 50 to 64
3. Those who have never received assistance for the optional shingles vaccine

　Note: Even those who meet the above condition 2 are eligible for regular vaccinations if they are in the following categories.

• 　Persons aged 64, born between April 2, 1960, and April 1, 1961
• 　Individuals aged 60 and above but under 65, who have a disability that severely impairs their immune function due to the human immunodeficiency virus, making daily life almost impossible.

　

Subsidy Period (Fiscal Year 2025)

From April 1, 2025 (Tuesday) to March 31, 2026 (Tuesday)

Number of Grants and Amount

We provide partial subsidies for the vaccination costs of either of the following vaccines.
Please pay the designated medical institution the difference between the vaccine administration fee set by the designated medical institution and the subsidy amount.

Number and Amount of Grants

	Type of Vaccine	Number of Grants	Grant Amount
1	Live Vaccine (Biken)	Up to once	4,000 yen
2	Inactivated Vaccine (Shingrix)	Up to 2 times	10,000 yen per time

• Note 1: Financial assistance can be received only once in a lifetime (either one live vaccine or two inactivated vaccines).
• Note 2: There is no exemption from self-payment for recipients of Public Assistance, etc.
• Note 3: Those who only have a pre-examination will be excluded from the subsidy eligibility.
• Note 4: A second dose is required two months after the first dose. However, even if this method cannot be followed, it is desirable to complete the second dose within six months of the first dose.

Subsidy Method

1. The "Notice Regarding Expense Subsidies" and the "Subsidy Ticket (also Vaccination Pre-examination Form)" will be available at designated medical institutions within the city. Please make a reservation and visit the designated medical institution directly.
   Note: No application to the city is required.
2. At the designated medical institution, please read the "Notice Regarding Cost Assistance" carefully, fill out the necessary information on the "Assistance Voucher (Vaccination Pre-Examination Form)," and present your identification documents at the counter. Additionally, those receiving the second vaccination must bring proof of their first vaccination (such as the shingles vaccination certificate).
3. Please pay the difference between the vaccination cost set by the designated medical institution and the subsidy amount to the designated medical institution.

• [Optional Vaccination] Notice of Subsidy for Shingles Vaccination Costs in Inagi City (PDF 715.7KB)

Implementation Location

Designated medical institutions in Inagi City (as listed below)

Note: If you wish to receive vaccinations at a medical institution outside the city due to unavoidable circumstances, you must apply in advance, so please contact the Health Center. Additionally, inquiries regarding vaccinations outside the city should be made after the start date of the subsidy.

• List of Designated Medical Institutions for Shingles Vaccination (PDF 101.0KB)

Type of Vaccine

There are two types of vaccines available for vaccination.

	Type	Name	Number of vaccinations
1	Live Vaccine	Dry Weakly Virulent Varicella Vaccine "Biken"	1st course
2	Inactivated Vaccine	Shingrix Injection	2 times (the second vaccination is administered 2 months after the first vaccination) Note: Even if this method cannot be taken, it is desirable to complete the second vaccination within 6 months of the first vaccination.

Note: Individuals considered to be at high risk of contracting shingles may have the interval between the first and second doses shortened to one month based on the physician's judgment.

Precautions for Receiving Vaccination

At designated medical institutions in Inagi City, we will provide you with the "Subsidy Voucher (and Vaccination Pre-Examination Form)" along with the "Notice of Subsidy for Optional Vaccination for Shingles Prevention in Inagi City." Please read it in advance and ensure that you fully understand and agree to the necessity of vaccination and potential side effects before receiving the vaccination.

Interval Between Vaccinations with Other Vaccines

• When receiving a live vaccine, it is necessary to have an interval of at least 27 days between the administration of other live vaccines (such as measles and rubella).
• Inactivated vaccines can be administered simultaneously with other vaccines if deemed necessary by a physician.

Health Damage Relief System for Vaccination

The vaccination for shingles in this program is treated as a non-mandatory vaccination (voluntary vaccination) not based on the Vaccination Law. If health damage occurs, such as diseases requiring hospitalization or disabilities that significantly restrict daily life, it will be eligible for relief under the "Pharmaceutical Side Effects Relief System" based on the Act on the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development. Additionally, the "National Mayors' Association" vaccination accident compensation insurance may apply. Please contact the Inagi City Health Division (Health Center) for more information.

About Shingles and the Shingles Vaccine

What is Shingles (from the Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Medical Bureau website)

Shingles is a condition in which a rash with blisters appears in a band-like pattern along the nerves distributed in the skin. Itching and pain usually begin 2 to 3 days before the blisters appear, and after about a week, symptoms such as multiple blisters, fever, and headache may occur. Typically, the skin symptoms subside within 2 to 4 weeks.
If you had chickenpox as a child, the varicella-zoster virus remains dormant in your body for a long time and can reactivate as shingles when your immunity declines due to aging or fatigue. Additionally, even after the skin symptoms have healed, there is a possibility of developing postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), which causes prolonged pain.
Since more than 90% of adults have antibodies against the varicella-zoster virus, which causes chickenpox and shingles, it is believed that most people have already been infected, and everyone is at risk of developing shingles.

Prevention and Treatment (From the Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Medical Bureau Website)

As a preventive measure, it is important to maintain as healthy a lifestyle as possible. Pay attention to a balanced diet, engage in moderate exercise, and ensure sufficient sleep. Furthermore, for those aged 50 and over, vaccination is expected to help prevent onset and reduce severity.
The main treatment is antiviral medication that suppresses the proliferation of the virus. Early administration is said to be more effective, so if blisters appear after itching or pain, please see a doctor as soon as possible.

About Shingles Vaccine

There are currently two products for the shingles vaccine (Shingrix and Viken), and there are differences in effectiveness and target recipients, so please be sure to consult your doctor.

Name (Vaccine Manufacturer)	Type	Eligibility	Number of vaccinations	Cost	Vaccination Method	Prevention Effect of Onset (1 Year After Vaccination)	Sustainability
Live Attenuated Varicella Vaccine (Dry) Biken (Osaka University Microbiology Research)	Live Vaccine	Aged 50 and over (excluding immunocompromised individuals and those receiving immunosuppressive treatment.)	1st course	About 8,000 yen	Subcutaneous Injection	62.0 to 68.7%	Approximately 5 to 10 years
Recombinant Zoster Vaccine (Dry Form) Shingrix (GSK)	Inactivated Vaccine	Over 50 years old	Twice at two-month intervals	Approximately 22,000 yen × 2 times	Intramuscular Injection	97.7%	Over 10 years

(Reference Material)

Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare Vaccine Subcommittee materials, vaccine handling instructions, attached documents, Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Medical Bureau HP