Between July 10 and 13, Russian-language Facebook accounts (1, 2, 3, 4) circulated information claiming that in 1994, after Japan abolished mandatory vaccination for children under the age of two, infant mortality in the country significantly decreased.
The claim that the abolition of mandatory vaccination in Japan in 1994 reduced infant mortality is being spread manipulatively. In 1994, Japan replaced mandatory vaccination for children under two with a voluntary system. However, this change did not reduce the vaccination rate, and children in Japan continue to be actively vaccinated to this day. Moreover, while infant mortality has decreased over time, there was no radical change recorded in 1994.
The information was fact-checked by Snopes and the AP’s fact-checking team. They found that although in 1994 Japan changed the status of vaccination for children under two from mandatory to voluntary, this did not affect vaccination rates. Japanese children continue to receive vaccinations actively.
According to the vaccination schedule developed by the Japan Pediatric Society, children under the age of two receive the following key vaccines: Hepatitis B (HBV), Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), Pneumococcus (PCV13), Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, and Poliomyelitis (DPT-IPV), Rotavirus, and BCG (tuberculosis).
- Did infant mortality in Japan decrease starting in 1994?
Japan’s infant mortality rate has decreased over time, but there was no sharp change beginning in 1994. For example, according to the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, the rate in 1993 was 4.36 per 1,000 live births, 4.25 in 1994, and 4.12 in 1995. By 2023, the rate had dropped to 1.77. This reduction is due to improved maternal and newborn health care and an accessible healthcare system. Issues in pregnant women and infants began to be detected and treated at earlier stages. In 1996, Japan launched a safe sleep campaign; medical technologies, nutrition standards, and sanitation measures were also improved.
Source: childmortality.org
Source: childmortality.org
Source: childmortality.org
In the 21st century, the Japanese government has increased campaigns supporting vaccination. In 2010, Japan allocated 217 billion yen to promote vaccination. Local governments in Japan also offer incentives to encourage parents to follow the recommended vaccination schedule. As a result, local authorities cover vaccine costs for families. If vaccinations are administered earlier or later than recommended, families have to pay the costs themselves. Today, Japan ranks among the world’s leading countries in vaccination coverage rates.
Natali Mtvarishvili
Myth Detector Lab
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