Free vaccination has started on the 17th local time in Japan, which is experiencing the third corona19 epidemic.
Vaccinations for all citizens over the age of 16 are performed sequentially in accordance with predetermined priorities and vaccine availability.
The Japanese government estimates that it will take about a year to complete the vaccination.
The targets for vaccination initiated by the Japanese government are approximately 40,000 medical workers designated as the preceding group.
They are given two doses of vaccines developed by the US pharmaceutical company Pfizer, every three weeks.
The Japanese government has recruited applicants for advance vaccination from 100 medical institutions nationwide, including the National Hospital Organization.
Initially, 10,000 to 20,000 people were assumed as the prior vaccination, but the number of applicants increased the number of prior vaccinations to 40,000.
The Japanese government approved the use of Pfizer’s vaccine as an emergency response on the 14th, but considering the lack of vaccine-related data and the risk of unexpected side effects after the start of vaccination, about 20,000 of the doctors and nurses who were vaccinated in advance were targeted. Decided to keep track of their health every day and accumulate relevant data.
After the 2nd vaccination, we will collect side effects such as fever for 4 weeks and announce them regularly.
After the preceding vaccination is over, the vaccination of about 3.7 million medical workers classified as the target of the primary vaccination will begin in the middle of next month.
Subsequently, a schedule was scheduled to inoculate approximately 36 million elderly people 65 years of age or older from April.
From then on, vaccinations will be conducted in order to secure vaccines in the order of patients with underlying diseases (approximately 8.2 million people), workers at elderly facilities (approximately 2 million people), and 60-65 years old (approximately 7.5 million people).
However, some have pointed out that the European Union (EU), where Pfizer’s vaccine factory is located, strengthens control of vaccine exports in the region, which could disrupt the procurement process.
Japan signed a contract with Pfizer to supply 144 million doses (for 72 million people) of vaccine on the premise of six doses per bottle.
In addition, the UK pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca has decided to receive vaccines for 60 million people and 20 million people in Modena in the United States, so it has secured a vaccine with a size that exceeds the total population (about 127 million).
(Photo = Getty Image Korea)