Every year when you go for your flu shot, you might wonder, “Is the standard vaccine good enough?”
Influenza vaccines in Japan are evolving. Specifically, the “High-Dose Vaccine (Fluad®)” exclusively for those aged 65 and over has four times the antigen volume and significantly better effectiveness. Furthermore, the “Recombinant Vaccine” is debuting in Japan for the first time for adults aged 18 and older, greatly expanding the options for vaccination.
Influenza Vaccine “Types and Differences” (2025 Japan)
| Type | Approx. Price (Incl. Tax) | Target Age | Antigen Type | Features/Differences | Best Recommended For |
| ① Standard 4-Valent Inactivated (Subcutaneous Injection)← Traditional standard | ¥3,500 – ¥4,500 | 6 months – All Ages | 4-valent (2 Type A + 2 Type B: Victoria + Yamagata) | Cheapest and available everywhere. The common ‘poke in the arm’ shot. | General Adults, Children, and the Elderly |
| ② 4-Valent Inactivated (Intradermal Injection)← Shallow, fine needle | ¥4,000 – ¥5,000 | 1 year + | Same 4-valent | Needle is 1/4 the length; pain is drastically reduced. Effectiveness is largely the same. | People afraid of needles (Children/Adults) |
| ③ High-Dose Vaccine for Elderly (Fluad®) ← 65+ exclusive | ¥6,000 – ¥9,000 (Subsidized to ¥2,000 – ¥4,000 by local government) | 65 years + | Same 4-valent | Antigen volume is 4x the standard → Antibodies increase by 1.5–2 times. | All individuals aged 65 and over (especially 70+) |
| ④ Recombinant Vaccine← New in Japan 2025! | ¥8,000 – ¥12,000 | 18 years + | 4-valent (HA antigen only) | Completely OK for egg allergies; highest antibody titer; fewer side effects. | Egg Allergy sufferers / Those seeking the best effectiveness |
| ⑤ Live Nasal Spray Vaccine (FluMist) ← Not approved in Japan | – | 2–49 years | Live 4-valent | Not yet available in Japan (Mainstream in the US, etc.). | Not available in Japan in 2025 |
“Which is Best?” Ranking
| Rank | Vaccine | Recommended User |
| 1st | High-Dose for Elderly (Fluad®) | Ages 65+ → Effectiveness is outstanding! Subsidies are available. |
| 2nd | Recombinant Vaccine (New) | Ages 18+ seeking the best effectiveness / Egg allergy sufferers. |
| 3rd | Standard 4-Valent Subcutaneous | Most people (Best cost-performance). |
| 4th | Intradermal Injection | People who absolutely hate injection pain. |
Summary
- Ages 65 and over → Fluad® is the only choice (Cheaper with subsidies).
- Egg allergy sufferers or adults seeking the strongest protection → The new Recombinant Vaccine.
- Everyone else → The standard 4-valent vaccine (around ¥4,000) is more than sufficient.
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) |
