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Kono denies reports of mass vaccine roll-out for general public in May

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Only NHK would be dumb enough to think that. There’ll be a general population vaccination in japan around September, if we’re lucky.

32 ( +35 / -3 )

May at the best.

Japan has arranged to buy 540 million doses from multiple Western developers including Pfizer Inc, whose vaccine is expected to be the first to receive regulatory approval.

Contract details will not be disclosed. So no information about the delivery time.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

Contract details will not be disclosed. So no information about the delivery time.

Probably at least until after full delivery to countries ahead of Japan on the delivery list has been fulfilled

10 ( +11 / -1 )

One day in the job and already confusion abounds.

20 ( +20 / -0 )

Best case probably is vaccine companies starting deliveries as soon as vaccines are approved in Japan, which unfortunately seems will take quite a while

10 ( +11 / -1 )

Japan has arranged to buy 540 million doses

Population of a little over 126 million, round up to 130 million for easy reckoning, at two jabs per person that's 260 million doses. What do they plan to do with the extra 280 million?

And why oh why are they still dithering about starting the end of next month when other countries started vaccinating last year and have already vaccinated huge numbers? (UK over 4 million, Italy and Germany over 1 million each, US over 14 million)

Someone needs to be told to extract the digit and get on with it.

27 ( +29 / -2 )

The daily Yomiuri said the government was aiming to inoculate most of the population by July, ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics scheduled to start July 23.

Perhaps this will be an article posted here later today/tomorow, but the mayor of Osaka just announced today:

"It will be impossible to finish vaccinations in Japan by summer... therefore the Olympics should be postponed to 2024."

Additionally, I've seen that other national assembly members have also been stating in the past couple dasys that there should be a negotiation to postpone the Olympics to 2024 (ore even 2028).

14 ( +14 / -0 )

He is being set up, as we all are. The Japanese pharmasutcal companies based in Abes voter base need time to set up the production. And that takes time.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

Olympians and bribe taking oyaji bureaucrats are first priority.

20 ( +21 / -1 )

At least we are starting to learn the truth from Kono that they have no idea when they will start to roll out the vaccine. Shame on the Japanese government for being so slow as this will cost the economy dearly !! Time for a change of government I think.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

This year? A bit quick for Japan, isn't it?

20 ( +22 / -2 )

I'm no fan of Kono but is this him being stitched up?

Dealing with the pandemic is far far more important than internecine battles between factions in the LDP.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

It's absolutely disgraceful how long they are waiting to roll this out. I'll be able to fly to the US and get it before I can get it here at this pace even with the disaster the US rollout is.

They could have tested it on Japanese people months ago while the Phase 3 trials were going on around the world which would have actually allowed them to have their precious Olympics. What a joke these health ministers are.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

kohakuebisuToday  04:52 pm JST

I'm no fan of Kono but is this him being stitched up?

Dealing with the pandemic is far far more important than internecine battles between factions in the LDP.

You're obviously not very familiar with the LDP ;-)

6 ( +7 / -1 )

So they're reckoning it's going to take 4 shots instead of 2?

I think that there Japanese are developing their own version of the vaccination.

It will be based on Western technology, but smaller and cheaper.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

@Ah-so,

Oh you mean.......copying again!

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Japan pharma wants to produce their own but they never even got to base one. So the best they can do is to gear up the industry to purchase a license to make some other developed vaccine. Then the govt. will pay them to make it and all become quite rich in Yamaguchi-ken where it will be made.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

May is simply too soon for the Japanese vaccine to be developed, approved and distributed. More likely late 2021 or even 2022 I think. Using a Japanese vaccine is obviously paramount,

Anyone remember the Abe masks and their distribution and that was easy compared to vaccine,

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Ah_soToday  05:16 pm JST

So they're reckoning it's going to take 4 shots instead of 2?

I think that there Japanese are developing their own version of the vaccination.

It will be based on Western technology, but smaller and cheaper.

Good luck holding on to that post. I said two days ago that the positively glacial pace of the vaccine roll-out could well be due to the government giving Japan pharma time to develop its own generic drug, and thus save a small amount of face, not even to mention monetary concerns.

Apparently that was off topic for a Covid-19 based article...

12 ( +13 / -1 )

Funny thing though is my wife who is a dentist said the same thing last week. Her clinic got a letter saying that they will be in the category to be vaccinated first in early March and the general public roll out starts in may.

must have been a mistake I guess...

9 ( +10 / -1 )

Here's the leaked priority list:

1) LDP politicians and cronies

2) Business leaders

3) Olympic athletes and anything related to the Olympics

3) Tarento, comedians and other useless people on TV

4) Rest of Japanese people, with no particular priority -- who pays most gets it

5) Foreigners

I definitely believe this is true. Love your posts. You are my hero.

-1 ( +8 / -9 )

The vaccine rollout program...

This is Japan's chance to demonstrate to the rest of the world how Japan has mastered the art of unnecessarily overcomplicating and delaying everything.

Chances are, if we're optimistic, most people will not get the vaccine until at least Q4 2021 or Q1 2022. You just watch.

15 ( +16 / -1 )

Japan must be taking advice from Australia... they are also delaying vaccine roll out for some reason. Here in the UK my mother has just had her jab

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Who was in charge of vaccinations before Kono? Nobody you say? Did they just start "considering" it? Someone enlighten me.

The comment from Kato that they will decide the vaccination schedule after approval is a stone-age approach to project management. A garbage statement from the former Health minister!

The appointment of Kono for this task is Suga's attempt at eliminating his biggest rival for the next election given his ultra poor ratings. They are already behind every other country with the roll out and in Japan it is an incredibly difficult task to coordinate between the ministries, prefectural and local governments and Suga knows it. Just look at the 100k yen failure. If Kono somehow manages to exceed expectations, Suga will take credit. In any case, Suga is using Kono for his own advancement. Well played, Suga...

5 ( +6 / -1 )

The vaccine rollout program...

This is Japan's chance to demonstrate to the rest of the world how Japan has mastered the art of unnecessarily overcomplicating and delaying everything.

Chances are, if we're optimistic, most people will not get the vaccine until at least Q4 2021 or Q1 2022. You just watch.

I agree with your prediction. Q4 2021 for foreigners would have me positively surprised lol

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Australia actually can afford to wait. They have near zero cases and their strict quarantine mostly stops the virus getting into the community and when a few cases do manage their strict lockdowns usually eliminates it. Meanwhile in Japan the spread and death toll is way higher and rapidly rising, the quarantine is a joke, as are the lockdowns and the mutant UK virus is already gaining hold ( Yesterdays story of 3 cases in Shizouka with NO connection to the UK or travel means this variant is already spreading in the community). Japan does not have the luxury of taking time to vaccinate that Australia does,

3 ( +8 / -5 )

I’ll be getting the Astra Zeneca vaccine back in the UK this year-the mRNA vaccines are not my cup of tea

2 ( +5 / -3 )

I guess that several time tables have already been underway across state officials and other stakeholders without consensus. May be faster and fast-tracked in regulatory approval as well as delivery to people in need.

Who was in charge of vaccinations before Kono? Nobody you say? Did they just start "considering" it? Someone enlighten me.

"Vax minister" a brand new/ad hoc post and outsourced assignment from the health ministry (under the current minister Tamura).

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I don't think they have a clue when the general public will be getting the vaccine. But since he mentioned that vaccinations were not a pre-requisite for the olympics, I take that to mean it won't happen before July.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Majority of general population won't see the vaccine until after 2022, when the Japanese vaccines became available and all the political families can be sure that they will get sufficient tax payer money from this whole operation. As an added bonus, the Japanese vaccines will have only been tested in a few hundred people for their "phase 3", so will have no idea on its efficacy, but will nevertheless be approved.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Too funny actually

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

This is not the third wave, it is still the first wave!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

The mass rollout should have started as soon as the first vaccines became available, in December. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines could be made in Japan under license, no problem. Or, go with the Chinese, Russian or any other vaccine you like.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

 including public broadcaster NHK, cited an anonymous source close to the government

If their source was anonymous, how do they know he/she was close to the government? Don’t they check their sources? I might call them tomorrow and tell them I’m from the government and make up some ridiculous story.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

No country has vaccinated more of its citizens than Israel since they started their program in December. In fact its not even close.

And guess what. Their daily cases and deaths have hit record highs this week.

Everyone paying attention?

-6 ( +5 / -11 )

They should make it where NO ONE gets a vaccine, unless they win a gold medal in a 2021 Summer Olympic event.

But really...................is anyone surprised that there is confusion with all of this?

Seems just like the same old stuff, just a different name this time.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Anyone know directions to Ichigaya?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

And guess what. Their daily cases and deaths have hit record highs this week. 

Everyone paying attention?

Attention to what?

It’s too early to jump to conclusions on the effect of mass vaccinations to support whatever narrative you are flogging. There are also other factors which could play a part here.

Remember not to get hysterical again and jump the gun. Be careful with running with narratives. The walls are not closing in.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Attention to what? 

It’s too early to jump to conclusions on the effect of mass vaccinations to support whatever narrative you are flogging. There are also other factors which could play a part here. 

Remember not to get hysterical again and jump the gun. Be careful with running with narratives. The walls are not closing in.

Jimmy, Ill bet you a month's rent the vaccine will be given all the credit for Farr's law. Waddaya say?

-8 ( +1 / -9 )

@bob

I’m just pointing out that you do have a habit of getting hysterical and jumping the gun. I just think you need to learn from experience. We all have our faults.

Did you see that Biden is getting inaugurated today?

It should be a moment for you to remember the value in staying calm, being rational, not jumping the gun and running with silly narratives from obviously inane sources.

Let’s be a bit more adult, keep it together and see what happens with vaccines after a reasonable length of time.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

It's important to take time to study the vaccine deeply and carefully. Japanese have special bodies.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Anonymous sources in the Ministry are leaking stories to the press in order to put Mr. Kono on the spot and try to force him into making a commitment. That happens in many countries. But I don't know whether their motive is altruistic (a forced schedule might just be the impetus to start the vaccine) or political (try to trip him up and make him look incompetent in order to eliminate a potential rival to Mr. Suga.)

While the J-Gov has committed to procuring vaccines from foreign companies, they don't know when the shipments will be available as other countries such as the USA have claimed virtually all of the initial production lots. It is always best to undercommit and over-deliver than vice versa.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The Japanese Government seems to be deliberately delaying the roll out of vaccinations for the general public because the LDP cronies and their associates want to make a few bucks out of the licensing! These old politicians will quickly get vaccinated months ahead of the general population to be safe themselves. The general public will suffer from the greed of these pathetic politicians! If they want to hold the Olympics this summer than vaccinations should be completed by then!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

In October 2020, Takeda Pharmaceuticals entered a deal with the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare to supply 50 million doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine. At that time, Japan had already agreed to purchase 120 million doses of both AstraZeneca and Pfizer’s vaccines. Under another deal, Takeda is preparing to manufacture and distribute Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine with funding support from the government. The agreement follows an earlier one made by Takeda in August 2020 with Novavax, where the former announced it was establishing the capability to manufacture Novavax’s COVID‑19 vaccine candidate at its facilities in Japan. The company’s efforts to bring both COVID-19 vaccine candidates to Japan are supported by the MHLW and the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED).

1 ( +1 / -0 )

So, Mr. Kono, get out there and tell the people what your plans are, if you got any!

He just got the job, no? Give the man a break. Anytime someone of power calls out NHK, I'm satisfied.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Bloomberg keeps this updated. The US has managed about 500,000 vaccines average/day since Dec 14th. President Biden say he will do 100,000,000 in the first 100days.

if adequate preparations are made starting now, there is no reason Japan can’t do this. After all, Ko o said as fast as humanly possible. I think the above would be satisfactory.

https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/covid-vaccine-tracker-global-distribution/

0 ( +0 / -0 )

India may be a developing country but have already started inoculation of their own vaccine with negligible side effects

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Please understand that asian dna is different everyone. Business as usual will never work w

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

"Oh no, NHK, please don't go around making vaccination roll-out schedules like that. It's bogus," administrative reform minister Taro Kono, who was selected to spearhead the vaccine roll-out this week, tweeted on Wednesday.

The arrogance.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I like Kono and wish him all the luck in the world with his new hellish duty. Give the guy a break, who would you prefer did the job? Kono is a thinker and get the job done! A rare thing. Hope he gets Dr Iwatei involved and starts knocking heads together.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

That settles that. Any idea or keeping my reservation for Sakura in Kyoto must be cancelled. Maybe Momiji but that depends if ANA honors my ticket cancelled last November 2020. Get to it Taro, Japan should have been in the front of the line with thier own vaccine . Can't depend on China, Russia, USA or Europe to do this job !

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

A vaccine that skipped animal trials worries me more than catching the virus itself.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

A vaccine that skipped animal trials worries me more than catching the virus itself.

An what vaccine would that be? because none of the WHO recommended vaccines did that, a huge hint would be that preclinical trials are an absolute requisite to begin clinical trials, "preclinical trial" is just another way to call the animal trials.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

What animal trials have occurred in Japan?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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