U.S. Warns Against Japan Travel, Sowing New Doubt About Olympics

[TraceNC]

Just 3% of the Japanese population is vaccinated, “the lowest among the 37 members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.”

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/us-warns-against-japan-travel-sowing-new-doubt-on-olympics/ar-AAKkI11

[oregonjen]

1. The vaccine rollout has been horrible

Very frustrating for the citizens masking up and following protocols.

[global1]

2. Whats The Reason For The Low Vaccination....

rate in Japan?

Anti-vaxxers? No vaccines? What reason?

Or do they have a Repug Party & a Fox News scaring people?

[dalton99a]

3. Why the low vaccination rate:

There are many explanations for why Japan has been so glacial about inoculating its population (which is aging faster than any other in the world). One is that Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s Liberal Democratic Party was betting on domestic drugmakers to come up with a homegrown vaccine. When none materialized, Tokyo joined the long line of other nations competing to source vaccines from outside suppliers.

A labyrinthine approval process hasn’t helped. Tradition-bound Tokyo has long required pharmaceutical companies to do soup-to-nuts clinical trials locally, rather than incorporating studies and data done elsewhere. So far, only Pfizer’s vaccine has gotten a green light from the authorities. Moderna and others are still trying.

Over the past 15 months, Japan often stood out as a coronavirus success case. As of May 4, the country has recorded just over 10,000 deaths in a population of 126 million. That has reduced the urgency for vaccines or a robust testing program. Japan also has a lively “anti-vaxxer” movement. Skepticism dates back to the 1990s amid unproven concerns about shots for measles, mumps and rubella.

Japan’s medical establishment is as conservative as they come. While many Americans turn to CVS and Walgreens for shots, the Japanese often expect only doctors or registered nurses to administer them. Dentists raising their hands are being told to stand by.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/05/04/why-is-japan-failing-so-badly-vaccinations/