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Japan to donate 1 mil doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to Philippines

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The same government said yesterday a shortage of Moderna vaccines in Japan would happen if were to resume allowing applications for the company inoculation program that it suspended due to supply bottlenecks.

Yeah, that makes sense. One thing is clear: urgency and the health and safety of people in Japan is not the govt's top priority.

12 ( +15 / -3 )

If they are not going to use in Japan then best give away before they expire.

I am still waiting for my vaccine coupon to be sent so would have been happy to have had the choice to have an AstraZeneca one.

10 ( +13 / -3 )

I’m reminded of the US prohibiting the sale of tuna in the 70’s because of the high level of mercury. Producers sold the tuna to ….. Japan.

Japan doesn’t want to use AstraZeneca here, so they’re using VaxxDiplomacy by dumping it on poorer countries.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

How many AstraZeneca left for donations ?

2 ( +4 / -2 )

This is a good way to promote goodwill and astrazeneca.

It may have issues but it's infinitely better than having no vaccines.

Keep donating to countries in need Japan

1 ( +7 / -6 )

Why Japan won't give Philippines, Pfizer or Moderna one?

https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccines/is-it-true/is-it-true-does-the-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-cause-blood-clots

Probably a reason for giving away astrazeneca but not a reason for not giving away pfizer or moderna

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Just how much AZ vax did they actually order?

can Japan even count to a million? seems like a very convenient number for them to say.

and what about the “shortage” of vax in japan? Has anything been done to solve that problem yet?

priorities would be good here

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Why are they giving Astra Zeneca? They bought some of it in the beginning, but now they have a production in Japan and it is still not cleared for use in Japan. Moderna is also currently produced in Japan, but it is widely used so they prioritize local population for Moderna. Pfizer is imported and stocks are limited. So maybe that will answer some people’s questions.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I'd imagine there are reasons for this beyond good will, such the vaccines expiring anyway, but even a small amount of vaccines will help innoculate medical staff in other countries, and that should be a priority.

fwiw, I've had a letter, but am not allowed to book an appointment until mid July.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

can Japan even count to a million? 

I think so. A lot of things in Japan cost a million Yen or more.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

@dildou

well, Japan has 120 million AZ doses.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Donate vaccines only after every person resident in Japan has received the 2 jabs.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

The AstraZeneca vaccine has side effects but for most people, they fade over time (alarming at first for me) and provide adequate protection

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Just how much AZ vax did they actually order?

I'd imagine there are reasons for this beyond good will, such the vaccines expiring anyway,

I mentioned promoting astrazeneca because I'm thinking it could be for future sales also.

Not sure if production will be limited to how much Japan ordered but astrazeneca we have here are produced here.(afaik)

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

@Desert Tortoise: Daichi Sankyo has been producing the AZ formula here, under licence. To the best of my knowledge none has been imported (as yet)

One of the newspapers did for a while constantly show photos of arrivals at Narita of Pfizer and Moderna but I never saw AZ being reported as the cargo.

I believe these donations are part of the COVAX initiative to deliver vaccines to developing countries.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

@Sindhoor GK

90 mil AZ vaccines are manufactured domestically as per the contract.

Thanks for the info

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Why weren't our citizens vaccinated instead of donating vaccines to the Philippines? If a foreign country has priority over our citizens, then I wonder on what basis it is decided who gets the vaccine, who decides where it is donated and who is possibly worthy of vaccination and who is not.

I would also like to know whose money originally bought the donated vaccines. Were the vaccines free that we are now donating them and not vaccinating with them instead?

Is there anyone in charge who is sane and responsible, even a little bit? Meanwhile, we're like a drunken millionaire and throwing money around

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Hysterical media hyped over reaction to the AZ vaccine, like a bunch of school girls. Millions of people in the UK have been vaccinated with the AZ vaccine and strangely enough there are not reports of swathes of people keeling over from it. Millions more protected world wide yet the media highlight the few who might have had an adverse reaction then conveniently fail to give the same prominence to the later fact that no evidence of connection was found, thus ramping up public fear just to sell their product. Despicable and cynical lack of professional ethics, meanwhile people die unnecessarily due to not being vaccinated from a very real viral danger.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

I am 60 years old and I have read that Japan is planning to approve Astrazenaca for people 60+. The reason is your body tends to have a weaker response to the vaccine and therefore less likely for side effects.

But to be honest I don’t want the Astrazenaca vaccine. Why? I am not worried about the side effects that are extremely rare. My issue is that Astrazenaca was ineffective against the South African variant and about 60% effective against the Delta variant. Moderna and Pfizer are like 80% effective against the Delta variant and have been effective against all variants to date. They are also believed to have a very long lasting immunity.

The truth is Pfizer and Moderna are superior to Astrazenaca. Also Astrazenaca isn’t approved in the USA, so your Astrazenaca vaccine card doesn’t count when you try to enter somewhere that requires proof of vaccination.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I am 60 years old and I have read that Japan is planning to approve Astrazenaca for people 60

We should hear about it again tomorrow

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Sure the so much generousity from Japan! They knew the AZ vaccines has the risk of blood clotting! Why NOT donates the Plfizer and the Moderna ? Hypocrisy the best!

It’s appearing in the mRNA vaccines as well.

https://news.yahoo.com/amphtml/news/man-dies-blood-clot-moderna-vaccine-210012580.html

As for the AZ vaccine, maybe Eric Clapton will right a “thank you” song for Japan. Soon as he fully recovers the use of his hands.

https://rumble.com/vijfs3-eric-clapton-speaks-out-against-covid-vaccine-after-experiencing-serious-si.html?mref=7ju1&mrefc=3

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

@ian

90 mil AZ vaccines are manufactured domestically as per the contract.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

I believe these donations are part of the COVAX initiative to deliver vaccines to developing countries.

These donations are made outside of Japan's donations to the COVAX initiative

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

I believe these donations are part of the COVAX initiative to deliver vaccines to developing countries.

These donations are made outside of Japan's donations to the COVAX initiative

Yes, afaik, Japan has made/ is making donations to Taiwan Vietnam Philippines Thailand Malaysia Indonesia as direct donations, in addition to what they'll donate via the covax facility

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Donate vaccines only after every person resident in Japan has received the 2 jabs.

Japan will not administer the vaccine, just donate it, no need to wait till all in Japan vaccinated

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Why weren't our citizens vaccinated instead of donating vaccines to the Philippines? 

Both can be done, vaccination here ongoing

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

englisc aspyrgend

Hysterical media hyped over reaction to the AZ vaccine, like a bunch of school girls. Millions of people in the UK have been vaccinated with the AZ vaccine and strangely enough there are not reports of swathes of people keeling over from it.

Of course no "swathes of people keeling over", but the side effects are off scale, compared with proven traditional vaccines that have completed all testing stages. (None of the current mRNA vaccines has.)

Fwiw, neither are there "swathes of people keeling over" from the Corona infection.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Sandoval

Why are they giving Astra Zeneca?

That one needs a less cooling than the others, so is better suitable for less developed countries. And the side effects seem worse than with the others. Pretty reasonable to assume both factors played a role in the choice.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Sure the so much generousity from Japan! They knew the AZ vaccines has the risk of blood clotting! Why NOT donates the Plfizer and the Moderna ? Hypocrisy the best!

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Maybe this is part of the plan all along, that's why the govt procured more vaccines than the country needs

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

The same government said yesterday a shortage of Moderna vaccines in Japan would happen if were to resume allowing applications for the company inoculation program that it suspended due to supply bottlenecks.

Yeah, that makes sense. One thing is clear: urgency and the health and safety of people in Japan is not the govt's top priority.

The top priority currently remands the elderly, so as long as they have enough for the elderly nothing has changed. On top of the blood clot issue, the AstraZeneca vaccine is less effective than the Moderna/Pfizer shots, in particular with the Delta variant. So it would be counter-productive to have everyone getting the AtraZeneca shot and running around with a false sense of security.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

How nice and generous. And we still wait for the postcards about vaccination time and location. Of course, after delta variant infection and death I also don’t need that to the Philippines delivered vaccine anymore, that’s understandable. lol

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

I don't know for sure and the article is not clear on the point but I would bet Japan is buying these vaccine doses from their manufacturer and having them shipped directly to the Philippines. It's not like Japanese are going to be deprived of vaccinations so they can be given to the Philippines.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Yes please.....they need the help. PI is so dire.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

The same government said yesterday a shortage of Moderna vaccines in Japan would happen if were to resume allowing applications for the company inoculation program that it suspended due to supply bottlenecks.

Yeah, that makes sense. One thing is clear: urgency and the health and safety of people in Japan is not the govt's top priority.

@JeffLee well, the applications have been suspended after allocating 56 million doses for companies. The inoculations allotted will continue till the end of August. So, the inoculation isn't slowing down anytime soon. 1.66 million doses given yesterday.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Maybe some Japanese politicians want to preserve the Japanese people after all.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Sven Asai

How nice and generous. And we still wait for the postcards about vaccination time and location.

I would not get too excited about getting those experimental shots. Have you seen the Israeli report about side effects? (Israel is the most vaccinated society in the world.) Executive overview: For every 3 lives saved by the shot, there are 2 lives ended by it. So not that that phantastic miracle solution that big pharma and big tech tout it as.

Ref: https://www.the-people-committee.com/translated

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Why Japan won't give Philippines, Pfizer or Moderna one?

https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccines/is-it-true/is-it-true-does-the-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-cause-blood-clots

-6 ( +6 / -12 )

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