“I have an allergy, so I can’t get it.” “I get a fever every year, so I’m scared.” — Many people who hesitate to get the influenza vaccine mistakenly believe they are “contraindicated” (people who cannot get the shot). However, this judgment of “cannot be vaccinated” is changing year by year due to medical advancements.
Complete Summary of Influenza Vaccine “Contraindications (Absolutely Cannot Get the Shot)” (2025 Japan Standards)
| Contraindication Level | Details | Estimated Number of Cases | Actual Action |
| Absolute Contraindication (Cannot be vaccinated for life) | History of anaphylaxis to the influenza vaccine in the past. | 1-2 people per million | MHLW and the Japanese Society of Allergology explicitly state “Lifelong Contraindication.” |
| Effective Contraindication (Almost Cannot be Vaccinated) | History of anaphylaxis to vaccine components (Thimerosal, Gelatin, etc.). | Extremely Rare | Doctor determines “Risk > Benefit.” |
| Temporary Contraindication (Cannot be vaccinated that day) | ① Currently having a fever of 37.5∘C or higher ② Suffering from a severe acute disease. | Can happen to anyone | Re-schedule after recovery. |
| Cautionary Administration (Doctor’s Judgment) | ① Developed Guillain-Barré syndrome within the past 6 weeks ② Severe egg allergy (for standard vaccine). | Very Rare | OK with a recombinant vaccine(e.g., Supemtek). |
2025 List of People Who Mistakenly Believe They Are Contraindicated But Are Actually OK
| Common Misconception | Actual Judgment |
| Egg Allergy (Hives/Vomiting level) | → 99.99% can be vaccinated normally. |
| History of anaphylaxis to eggs | → Can get the shot with a recombinant vaccine (Supemtek). |
| Asthma sufferer / During an asthma attack | → Can be vaccinated once the attack has settled (even recommended). |
| Have a cold / Runny nose | → Almost certainly OK if the temperature is below a slight fever. |
| Had a fever of 38∘C to 39∘C from a previous vaccine | → This is a side effect, not a contraindication. |
Decision Flowchart (2025)
- “Did you have difficulty breathing or a drop in blood pressure from a flu vaccine in the past?” → Yes →Lifelong Contraindication → No → Next
- “Is your temperature 37.5∘C or higher today?” → Yes → Postpone → No → Next
- “Did you have anaphylaxis from eggs?” → Yes → Handle with a recombinant vaccine → No → Get a standard vaccine immediately
Summary
99% of Japanese people are not contraindicated. → Excluding only those with “past anaphylaxis to the vaccine” + “high fever today,” everyone is OK to get the shot (in fact, you should get it!)
At-Home Testing Kit Ranking (Combined COVID-19 and Influenza)
Here is the English translation of the ranking table for at-home diagnostic kits that test for both COVID-19 and Influenza A/B:
| Rank | Product Name (Manufacturer) | Targets Detected | Sensitivity (Detection Rate) (Estimate: 12-48h Post-Onset) | Result Time | Approximate Price (Per Test) | Suitability for Pregnant Women / Children | Key Features & Availability |
| 1 | Panbio COVID-19/Flu A&B | COVID + Flu A/B | COVID: Approx. 90% | Flu: Approx. 85% | 15 mins | ¥1,980 – ¥2,480 | ◎ (Shallow Nasal Swab) |
| 2 | クイックナビ-Flu+COVID | Same (COVID + Flu A/B) | COVID: 88% | Flu: 80–85% | 15–20 mins | ¥1,780 – ¥2,200 | ◎ (Designed for children’s use) |
| 3 | KBMラインチェック nCoV/Flu | Same (COVID + Flu A/B) | COVID: 85% | Flu: Approx. 80% | 15 mins | ¥1,480 – ¥1,980 | ◎ |
| 4 | イージードック Flu＆COVID-19 | Same (COVID + Flu A/B) | COVID: 87% | Flu: 82% | 15 mins | ¥2,200 – ¥2,600 | ◎ (Many cases of use by pregnant women) |
