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Kishida says gov't working on accelerating COVID-19 booster shots

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Why is Japan the slowest out of all developed nations again in regard to vaccination rollout? Come on, chop

chop!

5 ( +29 / -24 )

doctors to diagnose people as coronavirus positive without conducting tests

How does that even work?

Amazing!

Can they also see what allergy I have without an allergy test, and what is wrong with my knee without a Xray?

That would be cool!

17 ( +29 / -12 )

Meanwhile, a Kyodo News survey has found that 17 prefectures including Tokyo, Kanagawa, Osaka and Fukuoka are now allowing doctors to diagnose people as coronavirus positive without conducting test

Oh Doctor in Japan now has special ability, that better than any PCR test.

11 ( +21 / -10 )

Capacity at the center run by the Self-Defense Forces has been limited to 720 slots per day since reopening on Monday, with an initially planned increase to 2,160 slots per day from next week through Sunday filling up almost immediately.

The problem is not with the people that not want to be vaccinated, the problem is in government that slow in doing vaccine from begining.

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japan-vaccine-chief-blames-drug-approval-system-slow-inoculation-drive-2021-05-13/

12 ( +14 / -2 )

Newgirlintown 06:57 am JST

Why is Japan the slowest out of all developed nations again in regard to vaccination rollout? Come on, chop chop!

If last year taught us anything, it’s that Japan can rapidly vaccinate 75% of its population in a matter of months. The booster should be even faster — because it’s only one shot, not two.

-1 ( +15 / -16 )

Why do they have single mass-vaccination spots in major cities? That's just ridiculous! People have to travel too far to get vaccinated. There is also the issues of large crowds of people spreading the virus. There should be many smaller vaccination sites all over the country to allow everybody easy access. Most local pharmacies are giving booster shots in Australia.

13 ( +21 / -8 )

Disillusioned 07:20 am JST

Why do they have single mass-vaccination spots in major cities? 

Demonstrate a little patience! Japan’s health ministry has determined the timeline for booster shots for those age 64 and below to be seven months after the second dose. Most people haven’t reached that seven-month mark yet. (And yes, we know that the interval is shorter in some other countries.)

-4 ( +6 / -10 )

Omicron specific boosters are to arrive in April according to Pfizer CEO.

Stay strong until then.

-12 ( +6 / -18 )

@asiaman7

Yes, but unfortunately, last year didn’t teach Japan anything about starting the vaccination

8 ( +16 / -8 )

So they are basically going to be giving the majority of boosters AFTER the omicron peak. They should have done health care workers and the old and at risk two months ago. Horses and stable doors anyone?

16 ( +20 / -4 )

And some other countries are even requiring the boosters for children. Sometime, it's a good thing to live under an incompetent government that's behind the times.

-3 ( +12 / -15 )

Can they also see what allergy I have without an allergy test, and what is wrong with my knee without a Xray?

Yes, depending on the circumstances it is called a clinical diagnosis, how do you think doctors made diagnosis before allergy tests and x-rays were available?

Oh Doctor in Japan now has special ability, that better than any PCR test.

More specific and sensitive? no, but more practical according to the purpose of the diagnosis yes.

Behind the scenes, top officials in Japan seem to be less than eager on dishing out these vaccines.

I wonder why.

In a country where bureaucracy and paperwork make even the simplest things time consuming this is an invalid assumption. Doing things opportunely in Japanese public health is the exception and not the rule, there is no need for any conspiracy to explain things happening as usual.

-9 ( +10 / -19 )

thelonius 07:33 am JST

@asiaman7

Yes, but unfortunately, last year didn’t teach Japan anything about starting the vaccination

Yes, I recall you complaining repeatedly last June, and May, and April, and March. But you eventually got your shots, right?

-2 ( +7 / -9 )

Yes, depending on the circumstances it is called a clinical diagnosis

Sure, and they were also very reliable and correct!

Are you not the one who is always telling us here without any data and medical tests and approvals, nothing counts?

You are condradicting again yourself.

1 ( +9 / -8 )

places to vaccinate are totally useless without vouchers. My prefecture I am supposedly eligible after 7 months which has already passed but NOT arrived. I rang the health center. They said they are only posted out ONCE a week on Mondays - all they have printed and organized in the previous week so MAYBE it will come next week BUT they are too busy so they cannot keep up so it might be ANOTHER week later. She doesn’t know and can NOT check. She said SORRY of course. AFTER the voucher arrives you have to book so then it will be another some weeks or months. Last time I the earliest I could make a booking after the voucher arrived was about 5 weeks! So I might be able to get my booster towards mid/ late March I guess. After 7 months turning out more like after 9!

Japan bureaucracy and sense of urgency at its very finest. But this side of the story doesn’t get in the news. Furthermore isn’t it a bit later to suddenly push the vaccines when the wave is already approaching its peak and people won’t be able to get boosters till it’s over

11 ( +12 / -1 )

> MontyToday  06:58 am JST

doctors to diagnose people as coronavirus positive without conducting tests

How does that even work?

The answer is in the text.

If you live in the same place as a Covid case and develops symptoms within a few days, the chance you have Covid is nearly 100%. Scientific literature is full of examples. Now if you believe it is your allergy, talk to your doctor, but I am quite sure it will be Covid.

Although not impossible, I would be surprised a fever in the same time frame is something else. I was never tested for the flu before coming to Japan but had it a few times in my home country diagnosed by symptoms and cases around. Same principle

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

vaccines proved that these are not so efficient in fight against covid and this so called booster will be same story-just more business for big pharma.

smart people will learn from own mistakes but seems so Kishidas team is not so able to do so...tax moany are going to be wasted again.

4 ( +10 / -6 )

Sure, and they were also very reliable and correct!

Yes they were, it is part of why the medical profession is so well respected and every medical school student have to learn how to do it. People thinking everything depends on machine make no difference.

Are you not the one who is always telling us here without any data and medical tests and approvals, nothing counts?

A clinical diagnosis is scientific data, just that it does not depend on machines. And it can inform correct decisions depending on the circumstances. It would be for example not appropriate if the purpose is to compare the effect of two treatments (because it introduces an element of variability that make the analysis unaccurate) but if the purpose is to initiate treatment or recommend isolation then there small risk of having a false clinical positive is not enough to offset the benefits of doing the diagnosis opportunely.

-12 ( +5 / -17 )

smart people will learn from own mistakes but seems so Kishidas team is not so able to do so...tax moany are going to be wasted again

whether the vaccines work or not it does seem somewhat absurd and waste of public money to be administering them at the end of the wave or when it is already over which is what is going to be happening in Japan with the 7 + month wait ( plus voucher time wait plus booking wait) . Most people not even at 7 months yet.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

@ Northernlife

As for the 3rd shot, we won't be getting it got sick enough on the second one by the time the voucher comes, it will be endemic anyhow.

Yes, my company postponed my 3rd shot up to end of march / beginning of April.

And I guess same like you, at that time it is endemic already anyhow.

And by the way, my Co-workers wife is a nurse, and she had her 3rd shot a few weeks ago.

She was down with a fewer of 39.5 degree for 3 days.

Very tough!

What kind of fluid is that, which they want us to take?

And that 3rd booster has a high efficiency for just 10 weeks.

After 10 weeks the efficiency goes down to just 45 %.

Even the influenza vaccine is 45% to 60%.

7 ( +13 / -6 )

Why did you send the voucher yellow envelope if you can not accept reservation. ؟؟؟؟؟؟

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Wednesday the government is working on accelerating the rollout of COVID-19 booster shots.

They said this in early December too.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

"working on it"

Translation: Don't hold your breath

4 ( +8 / -4 )

Had my first two shots, and have already had Omicron. I don't think I'll bother with any booster.

5 ( +13 / -8 )

Japan got omicron later than the rest, saw it coming knew about the need for boosters for at least 6 months and only now with over 20,000 cases a day in Tokyo and over 80,000 nation wide are they

working on accelerating

Meanwhile in the actual developed world they have access, functioning apps, paperless systems, etc...

We are still waiting for snail mail and vouchers.

2 ( +9 / -7 )

Meanwhile, a Kyodo News survey has found that 17 prefectures including Tokyo, Kanagawa, Osaka and Fukuoka are now allowing doctors to diagnose people as coronavirus positive without conducting tests, if they are close contacts living in the same households as infected people and if they develop symptoms.

Amazing!! Doctors in Japan have evolved to be walking Covid test kits! A simple glance from one of these medical professionals will determine whether or not you're positive! A.S.I.N.I.N.E.

As for "working on accelerating the booster shots" - please. By the time, they get a good momentum going, Omicron will have passed. For a country so allergic to losing face, they don't seem to mind falling behind all of their international peers when it comes to things that matter most. But I guess every court needs a jester...

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

The omicron wave will be way behind us by the time most people get their booster. If you are under 60 and in good health, you don’t really need it - your first two will still be providing plenty of protection against serious disease, not that Omicron is likely to lead to severe outcomes among that group anyway. It would be better if that jab went in to the arm of someone who hadn’t had it before.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

I got my booster at a local annual country fair in NZ. My previous shot at the local Rugby club. And the first one at a nearby beachside clinic.

There are vaccination spots everywhere usually run by retired nurses and doctors - could this be done in Japan?!

The audacity! The scandal! Not only getting shots outside of dedicated medical facilities but getting retired doctors and nurses not officially part of the system anymore to jab the local population? No, no; this is not possible. They are "retired" and therefore have forgotten all their abilities and skills. We need to only use those in the system and under our thumb so we go through proper protocol and stamp four piles of paperwork before sending the paperwork off to a random higher-up who will then stamp their hanko onto the four piles of paperwork; and then maybe the ball will get rolling.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

Why taking it while it is now common knowledge that those vaccines are ineffective ?

When populace will admit it then the question about the accuracy of the PCR should be questioned.

What are we exactly testing and why PCR test cycle is now over 40 ?

Why number of case raised after announcement of free PCR? Could this be linked.

Everyone should start asking questions.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

Meanwhile, a Kyodo News survey has found that 17 prefectures including Tokyo, Kanagawa, Osaka and Fukuoka are now allowing doctors to diagnose people as coronavirus positive without conducting tests, if they are close contacts living in the same households as infected people and if they develop symptoms.

I guess they are treating it like the cold. Can't really argue with that, but it's really frustrating that the world's 3rd largest economy, who constantly brags about its health system, has to resort to this because they can't do a COVID test.

My coworker's mother-in-law recently got COVID. He is the one that took her to the doctor, and he ate dinner with her the previous night (they live nearby). But he wasn't considered a close contact because he didn't live in the same house, lol. When he said he would like to take the test anyway, the truth came out: "We don't have enough test kits so wait until you have symptoms".

5 ( +7 / -2 )

My parents, 3 siblings, 6 nieces and nephew, all got their booster shots by walking into the Quebec equivalent of Matsumoto Kiyoshi pharmacy.

Why is Japan so behind the times with paper, snail mail, stickers (oh yes no hanko needed any more but replaced by little stickers, I guess in the Japanese government view this is progress) .

2 ( +8 / -6 )

Guess being ranked dead last again amongst developed countries and that being splashed around the media is having the desired effect… again. You’d think they’d learn, but TIJ.

and they need to stop waiting for domestic drug companies to develop effective vaccines and treatments.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

Now that we know natural immunity is six times more effective than vaccinations, a responsible leader would be promoting taking care of yourself - healthy eating, exercise, vitamin D, quitting cigarettes and losing excess fat. Yet that will never happen, because all of those things are free and don't benefit Big Pharma and government interest.

If people still don't understand that this isn't about their health, then it's clearly too late.

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7104e1.htm?s_cid=mm7104e1_w#contribAff

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Why can't Japan be first in the world at something?

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

Richard BurganToday  11:54 am JST

Why can't Japan be first in the world at something?

It is!

Archaic, convoluted bureaucracy!

( At least among the developed countries.)

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Oh Doctor in Japan now has special ability, that better than any PCR test.

depending on which companies and virus, PCR test are around 60% accurate. I would recommend, if you feel sick, see a doctor. They are not called doctors for no reason. If doctors think it is not flu or influenza, they will order a test. I know, I have had 3 tests so far.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Here in Tokyo, people I know (some elderly and frontline workers) have got the booster. Before it’s your turn, if you want it, be patient and use common sense.. you should be fine. I am still the way I was before COVID, well two years older, so whether the booster comes sooner or later it’s irrelevant to me coz am still uncomfortable to take even the first jab. Hope all is well and the current wave will be gone soon.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Why do they have single mass-vaccination spots in major cities? That's just ridiculous! People have to travel too far to get vaccinated. There is also the issues of large crowds of people spreading the virus. There should be many smaller vaccination sites all over the country to allow everybody easy access. Most local pharmacies are giving booster shots in Australia.

I got my booster the other day.

I could choose from a list of sites including local clinics.

I choose a huge vaccination center simply because I could reserve it the next day. It was a 35 minute walk from my residence. It was a converted Sports Center, so although it had the capacity to do 100 people an hour, it was far less crowded than a clinic would have been, and I felt much safer.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Really? Where’s mine?

I don’t get it.

They All KNEW it was coming, they all KNEW other countries were doing it, it’s NOT the first time distributing vaccines, we did this all last year, they STOCKED up specifically just to give out booster shots.

Why is this an issue again?

0 ( +5 / -5 )

It's already too late for many people.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

The measures are part of efforts to deal with the growing strain on the medical system and alleviating the shortage of COVID-19 testing kits.

Seems to me this "strain" on the medical system is from people who run to the hospital with Omicron sniffles, being panicked by the media. Nowhere in the article is the number of people with bad symptoms mentioned, which other news mention is negligeble.

This is actually the reason why Denmark lifted all restrictions, with Finland to follow later this month. They have recognized that Omicron is both impossible to eliminate and very mild at the same time. So the country can deal with it while functioning normally.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

treble4punk

I got my booster the other day.

Just out of curiosity, how many boosters do want? Israel is at shot no. 4 now, and they too have an Omicron wave.

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

Not had any of the vaccines and see no reason to join the club/cult. Expect I’ve had Omicron already which provides better protection than the leaky vaccines.

If I was elderly or obese I expect I may have them but my choice is not to.

Bit late for this booster lark now, this wave will soon be over and we will all catch it, boosters or hiding away won’t stop it.

1 ( +8 / -7 )

Countries around the world are already demanding boosters to enter with the least restrictions (no testing for example). We're already behind the 8 Ball because those countries are assuming boosters ar available to everyone already (Europe and N. America). Thabks Japan for being so slow that we can't even get a booster yet overseas, let alone here. I tried getting one in America, but only 5 1/2 months since #2 and absolutely no-go... So had to travel around the Caribbean getting tested constantly (at my expense) because of Japan's incompetence. The faster this happens now, the better for those who choose to travel outside these borders.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Just out of curiosity, how many boosters do want? Israel is at shot no. 4 now, and they too have an Omicron wave.

I'll get every flu and booster shot available. My only concern is hogging supplies that should have been prioritized for countries that are still waiting for their first doses.

I fully understand that this is a game probabilities, and that the more vaccinated I am, the lower not only my probability of getting very sick to the point of hospitalization or death is, but also is the lower probability that a variant would develop in me, and also is the lower probability of transmission to others. The reason is that the vaccinated immune system can beat the virus much faster than the unvaccinated immune system, so the viral load in the vaccinated person is less, meaning less severe disease and less chances for it to replicate/mutate.

So I will get every booster available because it's the right thing to do.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

The infection rate is so high they literally gave up trying to stop it and lifted all restrictions because none of their mitigation methods, including vaccination and vaccine passes has been able to stop the spread.

People really have a hard time grasping the difference between "infection" and "severity of infection." It's not black and white. Vaccines don't always prevent infection. They're meant to prevent serious illness. Omnicron is very deadly, killing 9 of 1000 whereas Delta killed 13 of 1000.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

treble4punk

Dunno where you got that false info from. Hospitalisations from Omicron in US are 0.1% for double vaxxed and 0.81% for un added. That’s who go to hospital not die. Omicron is considered to be 10 times less deadly than Delta.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

treble4punkToday  12:31 pm JST

I got my booster the other day.

I could choose from a list of sites including local clinics

Where are you located?

My Tokyo ward said they sent out vouchers for over 70 (which I am not) on Friday last week, but that turned out not to be entirely true, and only a few hundred were sent out.

My children's 98 year old grandfather and 88 year old grandmother still haven't recieved their voucher, nor has a single person over 70 we know in our ward or the 3 wards adjacent to us.

As far as I can see, the spee

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Opps hit post

Continuation

As far as I can see, I will not get the booster for at least another 2 to 3 months just like the first time, under 65 were vaccinated about 4 months after those over 65.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

We have no problems here in Okayama province where we our family is living.

Booster coupon was promised to arrive for everybody 65+ around end of January.

Received the letter from ward office on 1st February.

Called the clinic we used for 1st and 2nd shot on 3rd of February.

Got immediately a reservation, 11:30 AM on 24th February.

1st and 2nd shot were Pfizer, but 3rd booster shot will be Moderna.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

“It's already too late for many people”

indeed. It’s been too late for half, if not more than half, of newly infected people in the current wave who had been shot twice.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Would be good to see those who are craving booster after booster talking about the way there are improving their health and lifestyle to strengthen their immune system. Also be good to see the media and governments stressing the importance of good diet and health during these times. How many obese people needlessly died and are dying because nobody encouraged them to lose weight.

One size fits all solutions never work and the way this pandemic has been handled has been a total shambles, reliance on bad science and leaky vaccines.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

She was down with a fewer of 39.5 degree for 3 days.

Very tough!

Yes, maybe not pleasant - I had something similar, but not quite so long - but hopefully she reminded herself that it is waaay less unpleasant than a bad dose of Covid.

Everybody tends to avoid things we think are going to cause pain, like making a dentist's appointment when you know you've got a dodgy tooth, or sleepless nights and anxiety before an exam or a job interview, but most of us would not therefore decide these signals mean we shouldn't get the tooth treated, do the exam or apply for the job. It wouldn't be logical, would it? In the same way, having a rough few days after a vaccination is not really a reason to avoid getting vaccinated.

What kind of fluid is that, which they want us to take?

It's a kind of fluid that stimulates an immune response. That fever is one of your body's defenses against the perceived viral invasion. It tries to create a hostile environment for the virus by raising your body temperature. So the presence of fever indicates your body is responding as it is supposed to to the simulated viral attack.

Hope that answers your question.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Meanwhile, a Kyodo News survey has found that 17 prefectures including Tokyo, Kanagawa, Osaka and Fukuoka are now allowing doctors to diagnose people as coronavirus positive without conducting tests, if they are close contacts living in the same households as infected people and if they develop symptoms.

So it's possible now to have positive rate above 100%

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Foreigner

Of course they will be demanding more boosters, even though they are only really necessary for elderly and sick people. CDC announced vaccines to be approved for 6 months old babies soon, good money to be made .

1 ( +5 / -4 )

I like reading the anti vaxxers covid deniers comments especially calling people ( the vast majority of the population that are vaccinated) part of the vaccine cult.

But then I recently saw a program on a section of Osaka where the bars and restaurants barely survived the last SOE because they all remained closed, which I find interesting seeing these same anti vaxxers, covid deniers kept claiming at the time everything was open as usual.

Now for the facts.

The biggest reason we are not seeing high numbers in hospital is because the vast, vast, vast majority of the Japanese population listened to proper medical advice and got vaccinated, reducing the severity of covid if they catch it, all the stats from around the world are showing despite being a very small minority in most developed countries the unvaccinated make up the vast, vast, vast majority of those hospitalised.

When I read comments from anti vaxxers covid deniers claiming they had covid and no big deal, I think back to the " everything in my bar district is open no SOE" then the news reports that that the vast majority of businesses in that same district closed as per the SOE.

So I expect that once the government vouchers arrive, the vast majority of the Japanese people will listen to the doctor's, experts and get their booster and not the conspiracy theories anti vaxxers, especially the foreign ones.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

People really have a hard time grasping the difference between "infection" and "severity of infection." It's not black and white. Vaccines don't always prevent infection. They're meant to prevent serious illness. Omnicron is very deadly, killing 9 of 1000 whereas Delta killed 13 of 1000.

Sorry to keep posting about US situation but it's one of the starkest reminder we can have of how dangerous covid still is.

CNBC reported Feb 1 that the US death toll hit it's highest death toll in about a year.

NYTimes says deaths have "surpassed the worst days of the autumn surge of the delta variant, and more than two thirds as high as the record tolls of last winter when vaccines were largely unavailable"

Booster hesitantly is linked to higher deaths from omicron

0 ( +3 / -3 )

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