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Covid-19 vaccinations start in Japan today w/ healthcare workers. The recently approved Pfizer/BioNTech shot will be delivered to 100 public hospitals across Japan. Here's what we know so far about the process -- 1/
The first shots are going to 40k healthcare workers (up from 20k before), half of which will be observed over the course of the 2 shots. After that in mid-March, Japan will proceed to vaccinate ~3.7 mil more healthcare workers. Our story from last week: 2/ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-12/japan-panel-signs-off-on-approval-of-pfizer-vaccine-nhk-says?sref=V906pjsH
Then, Japan will start vaccinating about 36mil elderly (those 65+) in April with the goal of finishing that in ~3 months. This will be carried out by municipal govts & how it happens will be different depending on locality. 3/
The plan is that the elderly should get a coupon in the mail to make an appointment at a local vaccine site. This could be at a public location (like a school gym or like... maybe an Aeon mall), large hospital, or even a small clinic. Will depend on what your local govt sets. 4/
Potential bottlenecks:
* Supply: EU needs to clear Pfizer vax shipments to Japan every time
* Medical staff - by Japanese law, only docs/nurses can pierce skin w/ a needle, & getting enough staff may be a challenge
* Vaccine hesitancy: read our article! 5/ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-22/a-bitter-vaccine-history-means-hurdles-for-japan-s-covid-fight?sref=V906pjsH
* Supply: EU needs to clear Pfizer vax shipments to Japan every time
* Medical staff - by Japanese law, only docs/nurses can pierce skin w/ a needle, & getting enough staff may be a challenge
* Vaccine hesitancy: read our article! 5/ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-22/a-bitter-vaccine-history-means-hurdles-for-japan-s-covid-fight?sref=V906pjsH
Supply-wise - Japan's vaccine minister Kono said first Pfizer shipment had 64,350 vials (each vial has 6 shots so 386,100 doses if you're using the right syringes) w/ second shipment coming next week. 6/
Foreign residents who are registered in Japan with a local govt will qualify, as well as diplomats (shots arranged through embassies); so those 65+ will be vaccinated w/ everyone else.
Note also: vaccine approved for those 16+, pregnant women won't be pressured to take it. 7/
Note also: vaccine approved for those 16+, pregnant women won't be pressured to take it. 7/
If you're a healthy person b/t the ages of 16-64, when do you get your vaccine?
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Too many things up in the air. After the elderly, those with pre-existing health conditions will be prioritized, then 60-64 year olds. 8/
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Too many things up in the air. After the elderly, those with pre-existing health conditions will be prioritized, then 60-64 year olds. 8/
Vaccinations will be tracked via a nationwide system called V-SYS that supposedly will be used to gauge supply/demand and help judge where incoming vaccine shipments should go. (For bets on # of technical glitches this will experience... I'm not a bookie.) 9/
Note: everything in flux, dates/numbers will change but this is what's known so far. More shots should be coming: likely AstraZeneca will be approved in 2-3 months, and Moderna is in local safety trials. Japan also has a deal for Novavax -- that's a little further off. END/
