Japan Press Weekly

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2019 December 25 - 2020 January 14 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

Hepatitis-B virus carriers file damage lawsuit against state

Seeking state compensation, 146 carriers of hepatitis-B virus (HBV) on January 10 filed lawsuits with twelve district courts nationwide. They claim that they were infected by HBV due to a mass vaccination program and that the government neglected to take measures to prevent infection such as changing injection needles each time.

The secretary general of the Hepatitis-B suits legal counsel, lawyer Okuizumi Takahiro, at a press conference in Sapporo City said that so far, 27,681 HBV victims filed damage lawsuits with support of the counsel and 22,562 of them arrived at a settlement.

At present, in order to receive government relief, victims need to reach a settlement with the state in court.

According to the Health Ministry, the monthly number of HBV carriers taking legal actions is on the decline.

Okuizumi stated that the total number of vaccination-related HBV victims is estimated to be more than 400,000, and 72,000 filed a lawsuit. He said, “I think more and more HBV carriers without symptoms at present will take legal action later. We will continue to provide necessary information to victims through consultations and help them claim government relief in court.”

Past related articles:
> Another 379 hepatitis B patients and families sue gov’t for compensation [November 1, 2013]
> Hepatitis-B plaintiffs sign settlement with gov’t [June 29, 2011]