[EpochTimesDecember292021](Epoch Times reporter Chen Ting comprehensive report) Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Tuesday (December 28) that due to concerns about the further spread of the Omicron virus, the government is considering launching COVID- for everyone in advance. 19 boosters of vaccines.
In an exclusive interview with Kyodo News, Kishida said that he will fully activate the country’s epidemic prevention measures so that Japanese citizens can feel safe under the threat of new variants.
Prior to this, Japan has begun to inject the third dose of vaccines for medical staff. The elderly plan to start vaccination early next year, shortening the vaccination interval from 8 months to 6 months.
Kishida said: “In addition to the 31 million medical staff and the elderly, we are considering bringing (the third dose) as early as possible.”
Japan has not yet seen a surge in Omicron cases, but the government remains vigilant and maintains the strictest border controls in advanced economies, basically banning foreign travelers from entering the country. The government also provides free PCR tests in some areas, including Tokyo.
Kishida said that it is necessary to prepare for the worst.
On Tuesday, the first case of Omicron occurred in Iwate Prefecture, the first case of infection in the Tohoku region of Japan. At the same time, the first cluster infection of the new variant also appeared in Osaka Prefecture.
During the New Year holidays, there will be a large flow of people. Kishida said that the government will continue to monitor and “closely monitor the epidemic situation at the end of the year.”
The Japanese government also stated that it will cooperate with local authorities to ensure adequate hospital beds and improve the healthcare system to prevent the spread of the disease.
Currently, in the world‘s third largest economy, more than 77% of the population has been vaccinated with two doses of COVID-19 vaccine. Pfizer and Modena’s vaccines have been approved as boosters. These pharmaceutical companies said that the third dose can effectively enhance the protection of Omicron.
Last week, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare approved Merck’s oral COVID-19 drug, the first such pill approved in Japan.
A research team led by Professor Hiroshi Nishiura of Kyoto University estimates that by the middle of next month, Omicron cases will account for more than 90% of new infections in Osaka.
The team predicts that Omicron may reverse the current Delta strain in the first week of January, and that the number of new infections in Osaka will increase at a faster rate thereafter.
The researchers suggested that the current discharge standard is to require both PCR tests to be negative. However, as the number of cases rose, the number of hospitalizations increased sharply, and it could be changed to be discharged after 10 days after the onset of illness.
Editor in charge: Ye Ziwei#
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