Pfizer vaccine. (Image via Time Magazine)

Japan to get achieve COVID-19 herd immunity by October

A London-based forecaster, Airfinity, predicted that although Japan has the biggest quantity of vaccines in the Asian continent, the country is more likely to reach herd immunity against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) by mass vaccinations in October, months after the Summer Olympics.

The founder of Airfinity, Rasmus Bech Hansen, stated that it was because Japan is quite late to start the mass inoculations program, trailing the major economies. Prime Minister of Japan, Yoshihide Suga, stated that the Japanese Government promised to provide enough dose for the population by mid-2021. Moreover, Rasmus also said that currently, it is less likely that the world's third-largest economy will receive a very large quantity of vaccine.

Rasmus predicted that Japan will reach a 75 percent immunity rate until October. That is two months after the Summer Olympics.

Previously, Japan had purchased 314 million COVID-19 vaccine doses from Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca. The amount was even more than enough for its 126 million population. However, doubt remains that Japan will be able to get the vaccines on time as the vaccination will start in February.

Japan's chief of COVID-19 vaccination program Minister for Administrative Reform and Regulatory Reform, Taro Kono, stated last week that February will be the starting line for Japan's mass vaccination, beginning with 10,000 medical workers. However, he surrendered to the target to obtain more vaccines by June. As it is depending on American Pfizer, the U.S authority is considering taking some back to fight the raging pandemic there.

Rasmus stated that Pfizer did not make enough vaccine to fulfill the agreement. The U.S needs another 100 million doses of Pfizer vaccine, from the amount, the Japanese will have to share some.

Asked about Airfinity's prediction, Japan's Health Ministry clammed up. Pfizer itself stated that it is struggling to meet the global demand, 2 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses in 2021. As Pfizer is scaling up its Belgium facility, Puurs, the shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine will be affected until mid-February.

Source: https://bit.ly/39i8VIb