Daily Life Lessons · Childcare
Understand the difference between routine and voluntary vaccinations for children, get your child vaccinated following your municipality's guidance with the Maternal and Child Health Handbook and the pre-vaccination questionnaire, and be able to consult a doctor or your municipality about anything you are unsure of.
There are two types of vaccinations: routine vaccinations (定期接種), which municipalities carry out under the Immunization Act, and voluntary vaccinations (任意接種), which are all others. Routine vaccinations for children are, in principle, free if received within the specified age range in the municipality where you live. Voluntary vaccinations are, in principle, paid for yourself, although some municipalities subsidize the cost.
When your child reaches the eligible age, your municipality often sends you a notice and a pre-vaccination questionnaire (予診票). Make a reservation at a medical institution and bring the Maternal and Child Health Handbook and the questionnaire. If your child is past the eligible age, you may have to pay yourself.
Foreign-language versions of the questionnaire are also available. Keep records of vaccinations received abroad and show them to a doctor or your municipality for advice. If you are unsure whether your child can be vaccinated because of their physical condition or allergies, consult a doctor.
予防接種（よぼうせっしゅ）は、病気を 防ぐ（ふせぐ） 注射（ちゅうしゃ）などです。
- 定期接種（ていきせっしゅ）：決まった 年齢（ねんれい）に 受けます。ふつうは 無料です。 - 任意接種（にんいせっしゅ）：自分で 決めます。ふつうは お金が かかります。
1. 市役所（しやくしょ）などから 案内（あんない）が 届きます。 2. 病院を 予約（よやく）します。 3. 母子手帳（ぼしてちょう）と 予診票（よしんひょう）を 持っていきます。
年齢を 過ぎると、お金が かかる ことが あります。 外国語の 予診票も あります。 外国で 受けた 記録（きろく）は 捨てないで、医者に 見せます。 心配な ときは 医者に 聞きましょう。
What does a routine vaccination for a child cost?
Routine vaccinations are publicly funded if received within the eligible age range in the municipality where you live.
What should you bring to a vaccination?
Bring the handbook, where the vaccination is recorded, and the municipality's questionnaire.
What if your child is past the eligible age?
After the eligible age, it is treated as a voluntary vaccination and you may have to pay.
What about records of vaccinations received abroad?
A doctor will look at the records and decide how to treat the vaccinations already received.
Your child is unwell and you are unsure whether to vaccinate. What do you do?
A doctor decides whether the child can be vaccinated. Always tell the doctor about their condition and any allergies.
Q. I can't read the Japanese questionnaire.
A. The vaccination guide booklet "Vaccinations and Children's Health" (予防接種と子どもの健康) and the questionnaire have foreign-language versions, such as English, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese (made by the Preventive Vaccination Research Center (予防接種リサーチセンター), a public interest incorporated foundation; the questionnaire is also available in Arabic, French, Russian and more). Check with your municipality or medical institution about how to use the foreign-language versions.
Q. Should my child get voluntary vaccinations?
A. Some voluntary vaccinations are also important for preventing disease. Decide whether to get them after talking with your family doctor, taking your child's health and other factors into account. Some municipalities subsidize the cost.
Q. What happens to the questionnaires if we move?
A. Routine vaccinations are received in the municipality where you live. Questionnaires from your previous municipality usually cannot be used (if used, the vaccination may not be accepted as publicly funded). Bring your child's vaccination record (the Maternal and Child Health Handbook) to your new municipality and ask for advice.
This practice tool asks questions in random order (it works when JavaScript is enabled). You can still read all the questions and explanations above without it.
Systems and procedures may differ depending on the city, ward, town or village where you live and on the time of year. Please check the latest information from your local government or the relevant organizations.
Content checked on: 2026-09-28
This page is a translation of the Japanese original. If the translation and the original differ, the Japanese version takes precedence. View the Japanese original