Introducing Vaccine JAPAN: A Site Visualizing HPV Vaccination Rates Across Japan

Launch of Vaccine JAPAN

M3 Inc., a leading company in the medical information sector, has announced the opening of a new website, Vaccine JAPAN, which utilizes real-world medical data to visualize the status of HPV (cervical cancer) vaccinations. The site, now publicly accessible, presents monthly and prefecture-specific vaccination rates, facilitating informed health decisions for the public and healthcare professionals alike.

Background and Objectives

Established with the mission to increase the number of individuals living healthily and joyfully, while also curbing unnecessary medical costs, M3 Inc. has made significant strides in harnessing vast datasets. These data sources include Japan's largest medical professionals panel, contributing to a better understanding of the country's healthcare landscape in a neutral manner.

To further this objective, M3 is set to form the M3 Comprehensive Research Institute (M3 Research Institute) in 2024, aimed at conducting extensive investigations into medical real-world data in Japan.

Cervical cancer remains a substantial health threat in Japan, with around 11,000 women diagnosed and approximately 3,000 fatalities annually. This statistic is comparable to the death toll from traffic accidents, making cervical cancer the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women aged 25-40. However, the HPV vaccine, particularly the nine-valent vaccine, has shown the potential to prevent 80-90% of cervical cancer cases, with public health initiatives currently supporting vaccination for girls in the equivalent age range of sixth grade to first year of high school.

Despite its efficacy, HPV vaccination rates have sharply declined over the past nine years due to the cessation of active promotion. While rates have started to recover since the recommendations were resumed in April 2022, initial vaccination rates remain below previous levels, with some prefectures reporting rates lower than 10%. In response, M3 Research Institute aims to provide an accurate depiction of the state of HPV vaccination and its regular offerings through Vaccine JAPAN, empowering individuals, healthcare professionals, and government officials to make informed choices.

With Vaccine JAPAN, stakeholders can now visualize previously hidden data, facilitating more accurate decision-making and enhancing Japan's preventive health efforts. This initiative not only contributes to addressing public health challenges but also generates a significant social impact through M3's expertise in medical big data.

Site Overview

- Site Name: Vaccine JAPAN
- URL: https://vaccine-japan.com/
- Launch Date: July 8, 2025
- Content: The site provides graphs depicting the monthly and cumulative initial vaccination numbers and rates by prefecture and age group (routine/catch-up vaccinations).

Features of the Site

- High Reliability Utilizing Real-World Medical Data: Vaccine JAPAN combines data from the JAMDAS® medical database, facility-specific delivery records, and published figures from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, using a tailored logic for estimation. Expert reviews ensure the data provided holds a high level of credibility.

- Timely Updates for Enhanced Reporting: With monthly data updates, users can access the latest trends in vaccination rates that were previously only available on an annual or multi-year basis. This ensures a near-real-time capture of societal trends.

Significance of this Initiative and Future Prospects

This initiative is viewed as a crucial opportunity to leverage insights from the medical big data domain to address societal health challenges. M3 Inc. seeks to play a pivotal role in solving larger social issues through this undertaking.