Table 2.

Major events regarding HPV vaccination in Japan

2009	October	Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare approves manufacture and sale of Cervarix
2010	November	Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and municipalities begin subsidizing costs of HPV vaccination
2013	March	The Asahi Shimbun reports a case of severe adverse effects to the HPV vaccine, and media continue coverage
		Press conference by organization of alleged victims of HPV vaccines held for the first time
	April	Free HPV vaccination based on public expenditure system based on the immunization law starts
	June	Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare suspends proactive recommendation of HPV vaccination
2014	January	Expert opinion review meeting in Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare states the cause of symptoms after HPV vaccination is a psychosomatic “mind–body reaction”
2015	September	Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare decides to pay medical expenses to those who suffer from side effects after HPV vaccination
2016	July	Girls who suffer from side effects, and their families, sue Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and two pharmaceutical companies