Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga speaks at a news conference in Tokyo on Friday. Photo: AP/Hiro Komae
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Suga says Japan aiming for 1 mil COVID-19 vaccine shots daily

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Aiming for 1 Million shots a day

Reality: 1,500 shots a day

56 ( +64 / -8 )

Suga’s Premium Friday moment.

34 ( +37 / -3 )

The Japanese government aims to ramp up its COVID-19 vaccine rollout to 1 million shots administered per day, roughly triple the current pace.

A little more than 3 million people in Japan have received at least one shot, around 2 percent of the population, according to government data. 

Current pace (according to this article): 333,333 shots/day

Total vaccinations (according to this article: 3,000,000

When did Japan start vaccinating? Last week?

42 ( +47 / -5 )

"safe and secure."

This leadership loves using it's own sound bites - regardless of fact they often have no connection to reality

20 ( +24 / -4 )

Suga says Japan aiming for 1 mil COVID-19 vaccine shots daily

Just the same way we were to get 200,000 people tested per day in Tokyo and we are still testing from 1,500 - 8,000/day, during a State of Emergency.

So we can quickly conclude it will simply not happen anytime soon.

47 ( +49 / -2 )

Japan needs a national health service, like the UK's. The current system, relying heavily on the private sector, is badly equipped to deal with national disasters.

22 ( +25 / -3 )

They sure have been quiet on HOW this logistical feat will happen. A million a day sounds like a lot but if every prefecture is stocked and staffed it is doable. Realistically there has been no indication that the plans are in motion. Fortunately for the government, only 62% of the over-16 Japanese population want the vaccine so their aggressive 7 month plan can be reduced to 4.5 months. In the meantime, Let's Olympic!

-6 ( +6 / -12 )

I’d feel better if he pledged to do it...

12 ( +13 / -1 )

Of which vaccine? If this guy thinks we are going to take the poor quality, dangerous and expensive American vaccines, he has lost his grubby little mind. Give us a choice of using Sputnik V or Sinopharm vaccines along with American vaccines. If people want to take the American vaccines, they are welcome top do that. If people want another vaccine, they should be given that choice.

-36 ( +6 / -42 )

And then he woke up.

16 ( +17 / -1 )

Japan in general pledges, vows, and strives to do a lot of things in public hoping that no one follows up with the arithmetic or implementation months later. Motegi in fact just last week pledged a lot of support to Bosnia-Herzegovina; news that has since fallen by the wayside but sounded good at the time to the Balkan nation and EU. In fact, just Google, "Japan pledges" and find a whole slew of GOJ PR hype. Suga is just following the playbook.

16 ( +18 / -2 )

Well, Suga does have a history of overpromising. Back in 2007, when he was Minister for Internal Affairs and Communication, Suga apparently declared that Japan would develop new technology to replace the internet by the year 2020: https://www.techrepublic.com/index.php/blog/it-news-digest/japan-seeks-to-replace-the-internet/

The internet is still here in 2021.

24 ( +24 / -0 )

I'll believe it when I see it, but there will probably be nothing to see....

17 ( +17 / -0 )

If wishes were horses then beggars would ride!

21 ( +22 / -1 )

The math ( π ≠ 2 ) just don't add up!?

2% of the population received the FIRST shot in about 3 months, and now they think they can fully vaccinate the rest of the population roughly about 123,000,000 in about 7 months!? HUMMM I really doubt it, this is the real MISSON IMPOSSIBLE!?

20 ( +21 / -1 )

Japan needs a national health service, like the UK's. The current system, relying heavily on the private sector, is badly equipped to deal with national disasters.

absolutely! well said Jeff.

Japan in general pledges, vows, and strives to do a lot of things in public hoping that no one follows up with the arithmetic or implementation months later. Motegi in fact just last week pledged a lot of support to Bosnia-Herzegovina; news that has since fallen by the wayside but sounded good at the time to the Balkan nation and EU. In fact, just Google, "Japan pledges" and find a whole slew of GOJ PR hype. Suga is just following the playbook.

exactly!

Well, Suga does have a history of overpromising. 

Suga?! The whole party follows that playbook of overpromising and overpledging. Remember Abe? The patron saint of pledges? That's all they do.

7 ( +11 / -4 )

They never delivered with the amount of testing promised in order to have a better grasp of the situation of the pandemic, and testing is much easier to accomplish. The most likely thing to happen is a 10-20% increase (including the "corona hoi hoi" they plan to put in central Tokyo and Osaka) and that will be it.

10 ( +14 / -4 )

Enough "aims to," enough talk!

How about some ACTION!

12 ( +15 / -3 )

You don't need these experimental vaccines. Just stock up on Ivermectin and Hydroxychloroquine medicines which are the cure for an infection.

-27 ( +4 / -31 )

Hail Suga for he is our saviour, lol

10 ( +11 / -1 )

Maybe we should all enroll in the Olympics.

That's the best chance to get vaccinated in Japan right away.

26 ( +27 / -1 )

Japan needs a national health service, like the UK's.

Japan could use some fish & chips like the UK, but that's about it.

-13 ( +3 / -16 )

Of which vaccine? If this guy thinks we are going to take the poor quality, dangerous and expensive American vaccines, he has lost his grubby little mind. Give us a choice of using Sputnik V or Sinopharm vaccines along with American vaccines.

The mRNA vaccines are safe and effective according to the scientific and medical communities even if you don't like it. And it is not possible to approve any vaccine that is not applying for approval in Japan, if the developers think the elementary requirement of giving the raw data of the clinical trials for examination is too much then it is their fault their vaccines are not going to be used in Japan (and it is also motive for caution).

14 ( +18 / -4 )

Well, Germany now manages to vaccinate over 1 million people per day (wednesdays only), but the average is somewhere around 750.000 shots per day. 1 million might not be impossible for Japan, but then again, it took Germany 4 months to get all processes streamlined and to reach the current pace.

12 ( +13 / -1 )

1 million shots administered per day, roughly triple the current pace

A million per day isn't so bad ... If this is true we all get vaccinated this year

OMG just thinking about it gives me an erection

7 ( +15 / -8 )

That’s all well and good, but they have to control the spread of the virus and its vaccine resistant variants before they can start their ‘silver bullet’ vaccination program. They should be more focused on ways to control the virus.

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

Just stock up on Ivermectin and Hydroxychloroquine medicines which are the cure for an infection.

They are not, stop trying to promote conspirationnist cures and ideas.

20 ( +24 / -4 )

It seems depending on how many doses/batches are coming. More doses come more people get. Less come less people. It is only matter of time most people get vaccine sooner or later but it takes a lot of time. It seems they would probably get one until end of this year.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

The mRNA vaccines are safe and effective according to the scientific and medical communities even if you don't like it.

The same medical journals which said Oxycontin isn't addictive, no doubt. Regardless, all I want is a choice. If you want to take the American vaccines, I wish you well. But I'll pass. Still no reports of any significant side-effects from any of the 60+ countries using Sputnik and as more data comes in, as opposed to the American vaccines, the efficacy is being scaled up. No word on significant side effects from Sinopharm vaccine either but the vast majority have been administered in one country so even though very unlikely, theoretically it could be covered up.

-19 ( +4 / -23 )

How in the world is he going to actually accomplish this goal, when only doctors and authorized nurses are legally permitted to actually give the shots here?

There was talk about dentists getting involved.

Oh I get it now, all the doctors and dentists and nurses will suddenly STOP taking care of their own patients and run to answer Suga's call to inoculate everyone! Just like he expects 500 nurses to suddenly "volunteer" to assist with the Olympics!

If it wasnt so serious, I could almost (almost!) laugh at this like it was some B-movie or black comedy!

22 ( +23 / -1 )

Regardless, all I want is a choice.

You already have a choice : go get vaccinated in China.

The vast majority of people, chinese and russian folk included, do not trust the sinopharm and sputnik vaccines at all. You're probably one of the only persons on earth desperately trying to promote it like your living depended on it. But then again you also said that communism never existed, so you are quite the original thinker :D

16 ( +20 / -4 )

As long as all the athletes get the shots before us poor long suffering tax payers then it is OK in my booku!

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Let's see. If you do the math, that's roughly just under 42,000 shots per hour. Is Japan really equipped? It might be possible, but actions speak much louder than words.

13 ( +13 / -0 )

Growing up, I always saw images of Japan as this land where nothing was ever late, the future was already here, and it was a model of efficiency. Fast forward to the present and it’s quite a different story. Let’s just hope that this is one promise they can keep.

21 ( +24 / -3 )

You already have a choice : go get vaccinated in China.The vast majority of people, chinese and russian folk included, do not trust the sinopharm and sputnik vaccines at all.

Can't enter China at present as I'm not a citizen.

Apparently only 30% of Russians want to take Sputnik V. I'd bet anything the number for the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines is less than 5%. For good reason. It's utterly illogical to reject Sputnik V but accept the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.

-20 ( +5 / -25 )

I am over 65.

Received an email from the city office with a vaccination number last month.

Went to the city office before Golden Weel to ask about it and when I would get a vaccination.

Told to check a webpage.

Showed them the picture of the webpage showing a login and password.

Asked how I could login if I didn't know the password.

Told I didn't need to login.

Tried the webpage, a login page. and discovered I had to login with my vaccination number and password, which was my birthdate.

Tried to login.

ERROR

Took screenprint of error message to city office.

Told that I got the error message because the website is not ready yet. Try again after 13th,

42 ( +44 / -2 )

I'd bet anything the number for the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines is less than 5%. 

Your "bet" is not a valuable metric for any sort of discussion.

21 ( +24 / -3 )

Do these people not get embarassed when they don't meet their goal? Or even 10% of the goal? I have lived here a long time, and have seen almost any goal that was set, NEVER met.

11 ( +13 / -2 )

@chico3,

It is not even posibble to deliver that number of shots an hour..This has clearly been shown with 1% of the population gettting the vaccine. Not only can they not deliver, but they also can not convince people that the vaccine is safe...including me. Count me out! You can have quadruple!

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

Your "bet" is not a valuable metric for any sort of discussion.

Good point. What is a valuable metric is the data released by the only country to have administered 100k or more of all 4 vaccines, Hungary. Sputnik is by most the most effective and perfectly safe insofar as side-effects. Sinopharm is only a little more effective than Moderna but safer and the cheapest. Moderna is 3rd in all the important metrics with Pfizer being the least effective, causing the worst side effects and the most expensive.

-19 ( +4 / -23 )

Well, Suga does have a history of overpromising. Back in 2007, when he was Minister for Internal Affairs and Communication, Suga apparently declared that Japan would develop new technology to replace the internet by the year 2020: https://www.techrepublic.com/index.php/blog/it-news-digest/japan-seeks-to-replace-the-internet/

Great factoid to add to Suga's legacy of shame. At least Al Gore could point to something real, the actual internet, though he didn't invent it.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

The same medical journals which said Oxycontin isn't addictive, no doubt. Regardless, all I want is a choice. If you want to take the American vaccines, I wish you well. But I'll pass. Still no reports of any significant side-effects from any of the 60+ countries using Sputnik and as more data comes in

No, not "journals" but professionals, institutions, researchers and doctors with the data to prove it, do you have data of the opposite or are people just supposed to just believe you? Also, still no data being published and reveiwed to properly compare between vaccines. Unless you can link to those sources of course.

You want a choice? convince the people responsible of applying that opening up the raw data should be the first thing they did so they need to act like they were serious about it and let you have your vaccine, I am sure you will be more convincing that the governments that have said the same without success.

13 ( +17 / -4 )

More talk.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

No, not "journals" but professionals, institutions, researchers and doctors with the data to prove it,

So they released the info during a drunken discussion at a local izakaya?

-15 ( +5 / -20 )

I don't believe a word that comes out of his mouth. And, he is too gutless to even have some conviction in his lies... "aiming" is such a weak stance, one that he can easily wiggle his way out of with countless excuses and blaming others.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

Why not tell us what you can "commit" to, not your fantasy "aims" to appease the public.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Oh yeah Suga daddy, gimme some of dat sweet sweet rushed vaccine. Inject it straight into my veins.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Isn’t this the same guy that promised to hold an Olympic for celebrating human victory of the pandemic and the same one that asked it’s people to do gaman and avoid dinning outside but at the same time went out with his guys in a very expensive steak house me?

Well,in this case his promises aren’t as much more credible as the ones from Pinocchio.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

WHO just approved a China made vaccine for emergency use.

Enjoy!

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Hopefully the vaccine rolls out as swiftly as possible but keep the bad vaccines that cause fatal blood clots out. We don’t want to get sick from unknown spontaneous side effects.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

All those announcements are dead. None have been respected.

Up to now, the max has been 340000 a day a few days ago.

Yesterday, he said elderlies will all be vaccinated by the end of July, previously it was June.

Japan has secured enough doses for elderlies but not all have been received.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Kono said 10 million per week in May, now Suga says 7 million. Tisk tisk.

At this rate they will have to dump all the expired vaccines in September.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

0.9% fully vaccinated.

With the Pfizer vaccine? So about 0.5% fully protected plus those who have recovered from the virus.

-10 ( +2 / -12 )

impeach Suga and get him out of office like they did to trump

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Here's a link to the Reuters article... https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/japan-vaccine-czar-kono-says-inoculation-pace-accelerate-may-2021-03-29/

Kono said 10 million shots per week in May.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

1,685,000 people fully vaccinated or recovered.

Accordiong to data released by the government of Hungary, being fully vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine is very far from being immune to Covid infection.

-16 ( +2 / -18 )

Suga says Japan aiming for 1 mil COVID-19 vaccine shots daily

When? Next year?

Words are cheap. With the disaster in India right now, even they have done a better job at vaccinating her people than Japan.

I don't know how he can look at himself in the mirror with his criminal actions. People are dying because hospitals won't take them. I bet Suga would have no trouble get medical attention if he got infected.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

WHO just approved a China made vaccine for emergency use.

That's good. According to the Hungarian government, Sputnik V is far superior but the Sinopharm vaccine is superior to the American vaccines. Though the WHO previously approved AstraZeneca and J&J vaccines...... Now they can't even be given away.

-15 ( +4 / -19 )

The Japanese government aims to ramp up its COVID-19 vaccine rollout to 1 million shots administered per day, roughly triple the current pace, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said Friday.

OK, Mr Suga - show your working. Exactly when did we achieve 333,000 shots per day?

I had to see the doctor last week (not Coronavirus - yet - no thanks to you, Mr. Suga) and he told me that, even though he is a) over 65 and b) a front-line medical worker in a busy hospital, he has not even been offered any form of vaccination.

Looks like Mr. Suga is getting his figures from the Ministry of Truth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciD6G_bT1Ps

8 ( +9 / -1 )

What is a valuable metric is the data released by the only country to have administered 100k or more of all 4 vaccines, Hungary.

You mean this metric? The one completely debunked by Hungary's own health experts?https://hungarytoday.hu/hungary-vaccine-table-vaccines-efficacy-program-best-vaccines/

Now the question is, why do you trust the far-right hungarian government over actual health experts? What's in it for you?

4 ( +7 / -3 )

OK, Mr Suga - show your working. Exactly when did we achieve 333,000 shots per day?

https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations shows a graph getting markedly steeper for Japan and an increase of 0.23% of the population receiving at least one dose between the 2 latest data points at the time of writing (5th to 6th May) so maybe they are finally speeding things up?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Good Job PM Suga! Getting it done!

-16 ( +2 / -18 )

Since previous Abe government, Japan's PM only pretends as if government efforts something, and tries to deceive general public.

But incompetent government can realize nothing, only increases victim.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Complete and utter insanity.

These shots are untested, people are participating in a clinical with no recourse if they get sick or if someone dies.

More deaths are tied to these "vaccines" (3,800+ since they started administering them) than all vaccine-related deaths reported for the past 15 years.

The long-term effects, such as how this will effect fertility and what it will do to immune function, are not at all understood at this point.

There are medicines that are effective, therefore these pharmaceutical companies should have never been granted Emergency Use Authorization in the first place. One of these medicines, Ivermectin is being used in Japan, I believe. It is an inexpensive and safe anti-inflammatory anti-parasite medicine.

-20 ( +3 / -23 )

The worrying thing about Japanese politics is that no matter how badly this guy does(and he really doesn’t have a clue), he’s still going to win the next election, there is no opposition in the country, hence he can campaign for policies like tax increases and still be in no danger..

5 ( +7 / -2 )

These shots are untested

No they're not. Untested vaccines can not be approved by governments and health experts.

More deaths are tied to these "vaccines"

This is patently false.

The long-term effects, such as how this will effect fertility and what it will do to immune function, are not at all understood at this point.

Yes they are.

One of these medicines, Ivermectin is being used in Japan, I believe. It is an inexpensive and safe anti-inflammatory anti-parasite medicine.

And it doesn't work on covid-19.

Stop trying to promote conspirationnist cures and ideas.

12 ( +15 / -3 )

Hungry is far from a trustworthy government. No vaccine is 100%. Pfizer vaccine is 90%. Very high for this vaccine. So not a reason to be an anti-vaxxer.

I know it's gone from an empirical 95% effective to 'about' 90%. Any word yet on when Pfizer is going to release the updated data? Almost as if they want to keep it secret.

I'm not anti vaccine. I want the choice of Sputnik V or Sinopharm vaccines.

If Hungary reported the opposite, that Pfizer was best followed by Moderna then Sinopharm and Sputnik V was by a significant margin the worst, would the government still be "far from trustworthy"? I very much doubt it.

-16 ( +4 / -20 )

Complete and utter insanity.

These shots are untested, people are participating in a clinical with no recourse if they get sick or if someone dies.

More deaths are tied to these "vaccines" (3,800+ since they started administering them) than all vaccine-related deaths reported for the past 15 years.

As far as I understand the figures, a young, healthy, non-obese person is far more likely to be struck down and die from the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines than from the virus.

-15 ( +6 / -21 )

Do something for people in Osaka, before sending 5.5 billion yen to India!

You, demented old as**ole!!

11 ( +11 / -0 )

If Hungary reported the opposite, that Pfizer was best followed by Moderna then Sinopharm and Sputnik V was by a significant margin the worst, would the government still be "far from trustworthy"? I very much doubt it.

What you doubt or not is of no consequence. The only thing that matters is what actual scientists say, and actual hungarian scientists say the figures release by the government are bogus. So why do you believe the Hungarian governement over scientists?

8 ( +10 / -2 )

For those who actually listened to him, Suga laid out his administration's pandemic strategy. He explained that Japan needs to first and foremost concentrate on making sure all Olympic athletes and staff are fully inoculated to ensure a disease-free multi-week sporting event; something the majority of Japanese want to happen. After that, the Japanese politicians and medical experts can turn their sole attention to getting its entire population vaccinated.

-13 ( +3 / -16 )

So they released the info during a drunken discussion at a local izakaya?

Do you think Japan is the world? the scientific consensus is a much bigger thing than any single country. Japan has made no input to the global numbers in vaccination vigilance.

Accordiong to data released by the government of Hungary

Hungary did not release any data, just a table without any information to substantiate it. If you have access to the data so it can be reviewed by actual experts than you can use it, otherwise you are not talking about data, just a press release.

I know it's gone from an empirical 95% effective to 'about' 90%. Any word yet on when Pfizer is going to release the updated data? Almost as if they want to keep it secret.

Pfizer is not responsible for the data anymore, the countries where it has been used are the ones with that information and have been continously updating their statistics. Are you confused between clinical trials and actual general population use? or you think all the distribution, immunization and following of the people is done by the company? that is ridiculous.

As far as I understand the figures, a young, healthy, non-obese person is far more likely to be struck down and die from the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines than from the virus.

Then your understanding is completely wrong, what are the numbers you are comparing (like in sources) obviously you cannot just come up with random percentages out of your mind and pretend to compare between them.

10 ( +14 / -4 )

 something the majority of Japanese want to happen.

Over 70% of japanese people want the Olympics cancelled. What are you talking about??

10 ( +13 / -3 )

Aiming for this aiming for that..

Wishing and hoping...

Plans and targets...

We are tired of listening to these old men and their endless lip service.

Change the record!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

That would be impossible. I would be shocked if Japan even reach half of that number daily. Japan government simply do not have the ability or the will to do that.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

All talk and almost no action

5 ( +7 / -2 )

To anyone desperately wanting the Chinese or Russian vaccines posting this endlessly on Japan Today is NOT going to help you in any way. It is not happening in Japan whatever you think no matter how good your evidence is ( or isn’t). If you so desperately believe in these vaccines and want it you are living in the wrong country if you are in Japan. I suggest rather than wasting your time on pointless posts in this forum you start procedures to emigrate to a country in Africa or South America where you can obtain the vaccine of your dreams. Good Luck

11 ( +15 / -4 )

As far as I understand the figures, a young, healthy, non-obese person is far more likely to be struck down and die from the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines than from the virus.

Then your ‘understanding’ is wrong. Again.

Your posts are littered with ‘doubt, as if, likely, bet etc’

It’s not convincing in the slightest.

12 ( +14 / -2 )

OK, Mr Suga - show your working. Exactly when did we achieve 333,000 shots per day?

Yahoo Japan shows the total and daily increase on its top page. The rate of increase has been steadily going up but It stalled throughout the entire Golden week, which would explain why the total is still low. They need to vaccinate on weekends and holidays..

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Paul please show the source(s) for your information. I looked for the "information" you posted and all I found was that cases in Hungary are soaring and the public is clamoring for vaccines. Seems like you have just pulled together random rantings and have tried to present them as facts.

The there the following article...didn't give it a heavy going over, but....

https://healthydebate.ca/2021/03/topic/comparing-vaccines/

and

"The efficacy of Sinovac's CoronaVac vaccine ranges from 50-78%, according to preliminary studies from Brazil and Indonesia" (https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-confusion-over-efficacy-of-chinese-vaccines/a-57181029)

11 ( +13 / -2 )

According to NHK News Europe Vaccine export reports show 40% of vaccine exports go to Japan. Quoting NHK:

The Commission said Japan has accounted for around 72 million shots, or about 40 percent of the total, followed by the UK at about 18.5 million and Canada at around 18.4 million.

I would guess most of it is Moderna and AstraZeneca (not yet approved in Japan). So in theory they could do 1m/day once approved. BUT Japan is a bit more restrictive on who can administer Vaccines and hasn't moved to allow more people to administer them in an emergency. So we'll see what they hit.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Action mean everything. Speak after 10万人a day regularly.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

"Aiming" for 1 million per day. You were "aiming" for having a majority of elderly vaccinated by the end of May...they're still stuck at less than 1% for even the FIRST dosage.

"1 million" a day. So, even if they miraculously ramped dosage distribution up from the present low thousands to "a million" a day, there are 126.15 Million people, all of whom need TWO shots. According to your estimate, Suga, if you suddenly achieved your pie-in-the-sky number tomorrow, this means that , removing children, you wouldn't fully vaccinate this country until 2022, in the BEST CASE scenario!

Remember, his paper-pushing, time serving clerk of a prime minister has an election to win, and hence an electorate to fool, so expect many, many more similarly foolish promises, predictions and claims coming from the ole Grey Ghost Suga! Whatever it takes to win!
8 ( +9 / -1 )

These two mRNA vaccines are proving to be a little dangerous.

he could of bought the cheapest and most effective Sputnik V vaccine 3 months ago and vaccinated 35% of population by now.

why everything has to be American in this country?

-11 ( +7 / -18 )

Action mean everything. Speak after 10万人a day regularly.

They already are. Just check yahoo Japan as I mentioned.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

he could of bought the cheapest and most effective Sputnik V vaccine 3 months ago and vaccinated 35% of population by now.

You mean like Brazil? Who just banned Sputnik V because Russia's doesn't know what it's doing and sent them Vaccine contaminated with live Flu virus. No thanks.

why everything has to be American in this country?

It's a German vaccine. BioNTech licensed it to Pfizer and China. Feel free to get the Chinese made vaccine. It's the same thing as the Pfizer made one and very popular in China.

PS, how's the weather in Russia today?

10 ( +13 / -3 )

Vaccinations numbers from mid Feb until mid April

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/vaccine_sesshujisseki.html

From that onward it moved to a standard Japanese propaganda site with stripped out info and a pretty look. But anyway, here.

https://www.kantei.go.jp/jp/headline/kansensho/vaccine.html

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Tried to login.

ERROR

Took screenprint of error message to city office.

Told that I got the error message because the website is not ready yet. Try again after 13th

@gaijintraveller, maybe they forgot to tell you, first you need to install Windows 95 on your computer. Also, note that the webpage is only open from Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, and you need to hold an annual member's card.

12 ( +13 / -1 )

Oh I get it now, all the doctors and dentists and nurses will suddenly STOP taking care of their own patients and run to answer Suga's call to inoculate everyone! Just like he expects 500 nurses to suddenly "volunteer" to assist with the Olympics!

... And they start vaccinating the next group, without mentioning that the vast majority of the previous group are still unprotected. Some essential health workers, like ambulance drivers, have not yet even been told when they can expect to get vaccinated, yet are expected to transport patients with Covid.

And though they talk about a million shots a day, I hope they have remembered to count out the 10,700 doctors and nurses they said they needed to stop caring for Japan residents to look after athletes/ staff at the Olympics.

And of course, another elephant in the room, while some countries are starting to roll out vaccination plans for the under 16's, particularly the 12-16 group, Japan has no plans for this, meaning the pandemic will swirl round and flare up again because there is a sizeable unvaccinated group. Never mind it leaves a lot of children at risk of permanent damage from a serious dose of Covid.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Too slow is the vaccine roll out. For a country that is scheduled to hold an international sport event, the vaccine roll out is ridiculously slow.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

If I must take the vax I’ll do it when it’s out of experimental stage

https://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/news/top-tanzania-scientist-says-covid-19-vaccine-experimental/

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

Did I hear 1.1 million?? Who gives more??

Alright. No one? Ok. Sold... to the man who doesn’t believe his own words.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Just like those 60k tests/day. Riiiight...

NEXXXTTT!!!!

0 ( +3 / -3 )

This is like me saying I’ll unload the dishwasher everyday!

they better start doing 1M shots a day. They should be there already

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Suga San is daydreaming.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

What you doubt or not is of no consequence. The only thing that matters is what actual scientists say, and actual hungarian scientists say the figures release by the government are bogus. So why do you believe the Hungarian governement over scientists?

What is of consequence is that the serious side-effects, up to and including death from the Pfizer vaccine is widely reported everywhere, including Japan. Not sure if any deaths have been recorded in Japan but many reports of very serious fever lasting a few days or longer in rare cases. They are the cases where if it were in USA or other countries with poor health care for the masses, the person would die.

Lots of Anglo-American scientists said 'the figures released by the government of Hungary are controversial'. Didn't say false. They said this was due to the ages and general health of all those who were infected with and died of Covid after receiving the American vaccines wasn't recorded.

There is however no indication at all the American vaccines were given to people who had serious health issues and even if that were the case, it would only mean the death rates are skewered (that doesn't mean false), not the infection rates in which the No.2 vaccine, Sinopharm, is 6 times less effective than Sputnik.

-12 ( +4 / -16 )

These shots are untested, people are participating in a clinical with no recourse if they get sick or if someone dies.

Um the FDA, the world-wide gold-standard disagrees with you. As does Dr. Fauchi, who is widely considered the world’s leading expert on infectious disease.

But you read something on the internet? Please, tell us all about it as I’m sure it’s totally credible.

4 ( +10 / -6 )

Suga says Japan aiming for 1 mil COVID-19 vaccine shots daily

Sound good Suga. But how about this? Try giving at least 1 shot per day first. Or anything other than ZERO per day, like it is now.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Really? So the Hungarian didn't release the data I'm talking about?

Data that has been debunked by hungarian scientists (not "anglo-saxon", hungarian).

So why do you trust, and want us to trust, the ultra-nationalistic right wing hungarian governement over their scientists?

6 ( +8 / -2 )

"Aiming for 1 million shots a day?"

Mr Kipling is "aiming" to be a billionaire before he is 50.

Sadly, neither are going to happen.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

I love Japan but my god it needs a real government not this make Japan great again generation of politicians.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Really Mr Suga? OK, by when 2024?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

triple the current pace

What country is he talking about? Myanmar?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

If every of those many announcements is replaced by a real vaccination, it will be a more than easy task. lol

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

For those who actually listened to him, Suga laid out his administration's pandemic strategy. He explained that Japan needs to first and foremost concentrate on making sure all Olympic athletes and staff are fully inoculated to ensure a disease-free multi-week sporting event; something the majority of Japanese want to happen. 

For those who actually listened to him? The majority of Japanese want the Olympics to happen?

Boy oh boy are you off track.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

What prompted the Government of Japan to pluck a number as high as 1 million shots administered per day out of thin air?

Science fiction for sure.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

As far as I understand the figures, a young, healthy, non-obese person is far more likely to be struck down and die from the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines than from the virus.

Indeed, there is no valid reason for young healthy people to take unnecessary risks with these unapproved vaccines.

These shots are untested, people are participating in a clinical with no recourse if they get sick or if someone dies.

Um the FDA, the world-wide gold-standard disagrees with you.

They have been tested, but not enough for them to get FDA approval. They have only received emergency use authorization, which is something they do for unapproved treatments when effective alternatives are not available. That is why they have worked very hard to produce data to try to convince people that ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine are ineffective; although by now there is so much more evidence showing that they are effective.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

Antivaxxer say the wackiest things.

When it comes to public health, if it's not true, don't say it.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

That is why they have worked very hard to produce data to try to convince people that ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine are ineffective; although by now there is so much more evidence showing that they are effective.

The FDA looked at this and found there is zero evidence that it has any effect at all.

There is just as much evidence that Trump’s miracle cure grift woks as there is that there was widespread voter fraud.

Which is to say none, zero, nada, nil, zip, zilch.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

That is why they have worked very hard to produce data to try to convince people that ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine are ineffective; although by now there is so much more evidence showing that they are effective.

So much evidence should be easy to find, right? Can you share it or will the secret service tap your phone?

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Well, Suga's aim, is spot off the mark, as attested to by the current state of affairs.

One million a day. Everyone over 16. Approximately 100 million individuals. That's 100 days. 5 months if Monday thru Friday. Seven days a week: three to four months.

However, that assumes you have it all planned out.

The United States, which has been a train-wreck during the pandemic: 110 million vaccinated

In the USA: On March 13th, 4.5 million doses administered. April 10th, 4.6 million.

Beginning, February 12th, the USA has vaccinated at least one million per day.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Suga exemplifies incompetence. An advanced society. G-7 country. Cannot manage to even begin vaccinating its citizens. Less than 2% have been inoculated.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Indeed, there is no valid reason for young healthy people to take unnecessary risks with these unapproved vaccines.

Since the comment is wrong your conclusion is easier to prove wrong the same, nobody in the target population for the vaccines is at a higher risk after vaccination than before, it is actually the opposite, for everybody the risk decreases very importantly, this corroborated scientifically.

That is why they have worked very hard to produce data to try to convince people that ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine are ineffective; although by now there is so much more evidence showing that they are effective.

That conspiracy theory is terribly easy to prove false, there are other drugs that had no problem being proved effective against COVID, the only problem is that frauds and con artists convinced enough people that drugs with limited or no usefulness (like HCQ) were effective using terribly unethical and manipulated studies, faulty evidence that fortunately was able to be eliminated thanks to the normal scientific process that sooner or later do that with trash data.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

We all know well now that words from Japanese officials almost always mean nothing. What I find difficult to understand is the total lack of challenge to this hollow pledges. How about the people getting angry? How about the ineffective press asking questions? That is where they need to start from. This is not a democracy as we grew up to understand the meaning of that system. This is a mild dictatorship, with lots and lots of small dictators, from the PM down to the cleaners' manager. Everyone must conform, without challenging his/her 'superior', without challenging the status-quo. In turns, Japanese are both dictators and persecuted...no time for more, sorry.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Then stop wasting your time on useless "emergency states", and put all your time and effort on vaccination.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

I'm fine with whatever the JG proposes, as long as I am given a non-coerced choice as to whether to receive this experimental jab or not.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

“I'm fine with whatever the JG proposes, as long as I am given a non-coerced choice as to whether to receive this experimental jab or not.”

Same here

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

“Really Mr Suga? OK, by when 2024?”

The vaccines will be out of experimental phase by then, and people can make informed choices whether to take them.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Would Japanese government humbly accept vaccines from China? Due to the lack of vaccines over 10,000 people have died so far, millions got infected, lack of vaccines is strongly affecting the revenues of businesses and mental health of everybody. Prejudice against China should be put aside and consider their vaccines.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

Hurry up.

If Japan waits too long, it could end up being the next India.

As far as the vaccines from China, there is a problem. The Seychelles are the most vaccinated country on Earth, but they used either the Chinese or AstraZeneca vaccines, both with about 77% efficacy, and are now suffering a very bad surge in Covid-19 cases. I read that AstraZeneca is now recommending a third dose, to increase immunity. To be fair, most of those infected did not get inoculated, or got only one shot, and they opened up the country to tourists without requiring that they prove they are vaccinated.

So the Seychelles, with 61% of the population fully vaccinated, are suffering a surge in cases. Seventy-seven percent of 61% comes to 47% fully vaccinated, or less than half the population. The Pfizer and Modena vaccines have an efficacy rate of 95%, so they are looking like the best way to go so far. Ninety-five percent of 61% would come out to 58%, much better.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Would Japanese government humbly accept vaccines from China?

Er.... the problem is not so much the lack of vaccines, Mr. Shimizu! It's the 24 million pfizer doses sitting in refrigerators here!

2 ( +4 / -2 )

“If Japan waits too long, it could end up being the next India.”

overcrowding and poor hygiene exacerbated the situation in India.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

And re the vaccines https://australiannationalreview.com/health/french-drug-evaluation-center-concludes-all-4-covid-vaccines-should-be-discontinued/

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Makoto ShimizuMay 9 10:40 am JST

Would Japanese government humbly accept vaccines from China? Due to the lack of vaccines over 10,000 people have died so far, millions got infected, lack of vaccines is strongly affecting the revenues of businesses and mental health of everybody. Prejudice against China should be put aside and consider their vaccines.

While this is a nice thought, I would not trust anything coming from China. They made the virus, and I don't think they did any testing that even remotely mirrors what Pfizer or Moderna did. I'm vaccinated with the Moderna vaccine. Almost no side effects, and even the second shot I only had a slightly restless night.

One million shots a day is great, but at a mass vax site only giving out 5000-1000 a day does not cut it unless they have hundreds of these places set up. The US has seen a dramatic lowering of the serious hospitalizations and cases because we have been able to get to ~35% vaccination of all people.

https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Less likely than likely...

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Would Japanese government humbly accept vaccines from China? Due to the lack of vaccines over 10,000 people have died so far, millions got infected, lack of vaccines is strongly affecting the revenues of businesses and mental health of everybody. Prejudice against China should be put aside and consider their vaccines.

Obviously you missed the other article saying Japan has a stockpile of unused vaccinations.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

These ludicrous statements make it impossible and are not helping the situation. Who is going to garner the resources? Who is going to have a qualified team in place? Japan doesn't have the nurses to spare, doesn't have the technology to organize, and Suga and company are just waiting around moving from crisis to crisis.

How's that testing coming along? Has it ever topped 11,000? If you can't identify hotspots then you can't affect change. It's another canard. A way to placate people, separated from any action of merit.

How can there be outrage in a country who supported and bailed out TEPCO instead of jailing the management? That turned nuclear power back on when other countries around the world turned them off? In a country where critics can be persecuted by the government?

Taking a hard tack and suddenly caring about people is just too high a hurdle to overcome. It's really no wonder that the average Japanese can't care about what they have to say. Who could?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

You go girl! Suga san is a funny man!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"The government already has an agreement with Moderna to receive delivery of 50 million doses by the end of September.'"

But, the elite get it first.

"Suga said he expects plans to offer the option to be vaccinated to athletes competing at this summer's Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics to extend to members of the Japanese delegation."

More and more this Olympic is starting to look like Minamata.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Or...maybe just come up with a measured, efficient, and achievable plan to distribute/use the 20 or so million doses that are already languishing in the freezer? I know...crazy talk, right?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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