Japan has ever based its policy for controlling influenza on a strategy of vaccinating schoolchildren.Mass immunization program for schoolchildren began in 1962. The government discontinuedthe program in 1994, because of growing doubt about its effectiveness. However, it was recently reportedthat vaccinating schoolchildren against influenza provides protection and reduces mortalityfrom influenza among elderly persons. Instead, Japanese government will begin a vaccination programfor elderly persons, because the excess mortality rates increased, as the vaccination of schoolchildrenwas discontinued. Although vaccination rate of Japan is the lowest in developed countries atpresent, the supply of influenza vaccine increases double every year.