Table of Contents
Children’s Health Check
Infant health checks are designed to maintain and improve the health of children by checking their nutritional status and growth on a regular basis. If you have any concerns related to your child’s growth or parenting, make a note in your Maternal and Child Health Handbook and ask your doctor.
- 3 – 4 month old baby health checkup: Designated Health Consultation Center
We check skin condition, visual tracking and response to sound, neck support and hip spread. - 6 – 7-month-old baby health checkup: Local medical institutions
We check to see if the baby can grab a toy, sit up, turn over, etc., and whether or not the baby has been weaned. - 9 – 10-month-old baby health checkup: Local medical institutions
We check to see if the baby is crawling, standing while holding on to an object, and the number of times each day the baby is eating baby food. - 18-month-old baby health checkup: Local medical institutions
We check to see if the baby can walk without help, how many meaningful words she can speak, etc. - 18 months dental checkup: Designated Health Consultation Center
We check the baby’s teeth growth, number of teeth and cavities. - 3 years old infant health checkup: Designated Health Consultation Center
We check to see if the infant can speak two-word phrases, communication skill and the development of self-concept.
For more information, please see the Shibuya Ward website.
Children’s Immunization
Routine and Voluntary Vaccinations
To protect children from Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPDs), several vaccines need to be administered starting in infancy.
Parents need to have a proper understanding of vaccinations to ensure that their children receive them.
Routine Vaccinations
These are vaccines administered under the “Immunization Act,” a law that sets the rules for vaccination.
Children can receive a set number of free vaccinations during a set period of time.
Voluntary Vaccinations
These are vaccines that are not required by the Immunization Act.
The difference between voluntary and routine vaccines is simply institutional, but both are important.
Expenses are to be paid by the individual, but are subsidized by the Ward.
Immunization Schedule
Begin vaccinations when the baby is two months old.
The most common first vaccine is Hib + pneumococcus + hepatitis B + rotavirus.
Please consult the immunization schedule recommended by the Japanese Society of Pediatrics on the Japanese Society of Pediatrics website.
Vaccine Information (Japanese Society of Pediatrics)
General Information
Read the following information on the purpose of vaccination, possible side-effects and risks.
Vaccinations being when the baby is two months old, and continue at age 1, and right when entering elementary school.
The information is available as a collection of PDF files (in Japanese)
Information on each vaccine
Each vaccine handles different diseases, has different effectiveness, and possible side effects.
The information is available as a collection of PDF files (in Japanese)
Cervical Cancer Prevention Vaccine (HPV vaccine)
The HPV vaccine prevents infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes cervical cancer.
It has become a routine vaccination from 2013. Girls 12 to 15 years of age can receive the vaccine free of charge. However, as of September 2020, HPV vaccination in Japan is extremely low due to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare’s discontinuation of its “active recommendation of vaccination”. The Japanese Society of Pediatrics, the Japanese Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and related academic societies recommend proactive HPV vaccination.(Note 1-3)
Obtain correct information and consult with your family regarding the HPV vaccination. Also, please consult your family physician.
Note 1) The point of view on HPV vaccine from the pediatrics society from the immunization promotion conference on April 18th 2016 is captured in the following PDF (in Japanese): http://www.jpeds.or.jp/uploads/files/20160418_HPV.pdf
Note 2）The recommendations on HPV vaccine innoculation from the Society of Ambulatory and General Pediatrics of Japan is captured in the following PDF (in Japanese): http://www.gairai-shounika.jp/activity/unei/yobo_sesshu/HPV_vaccine.pdf
Note 3）The call to resume proactive HPV vaccine innoculation recomendation from the Japan Pediatrics Association (January 2020) is captured in the following PDF (in Japanese): PDFはこちら