This study analyzes the changes in influenza-related mortality among young children before and after the discontinuation of mass vaccination of schoolchildren in Japan. The Japanese program acts as an example of a mandatory national vaccination policy, and provides data regarding the program’s effect before, during, and after implementation. The study’s conclusion that mandatory vaccination is associated with a decrease in overall mortality rate identifies a reason to increase the percentage of children vaccinated for seasonal influenza (Sugaya, 2005).
