The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has targeted medical institutions and facilities for the elderly where clusters have occurred, following a series of indications that the criteria for shortening the interval up to the third dose to 6 months are ambiguous regarding the inoculation of the new coronavirus vaccine. We have notified the whole country of the policy that it is limited to those who are related to.
Regarding the third vaccination, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare states that the interval from the second vaccination should be 8 months or more in principle, while the local government can exceptionally shorten it to 6 months based on the infection situation in the area.
In response, local governments nationwide pointed out that the standards were ambiguous, and on the 26th, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare notified municipalities nationwide of the standards that could shorten the inoculation interval.
According to this, it can be shortened to 6 months
▽ When a cluster occurs in a medical institution or a facility for the elderly, the target is inpatients, facility users, staff, etc. Only those who deem it necessary.
▽ If multiple clusters occur within the jurisdiction of the same health center, related parties such as medical institutions and facilities for the elderly within the jurisdiction can also be targeted.
It means that we will not deliver new vaccines from the country, but will use the vaccines that have already been delivered.
In addition, municipalities wishing to shorten the inoculation interval are requested to consult in advance through the prefectures after summarizing the number of subjects in the inoculation plan.
National Association of Health Facilities for the Elderly “Inoculation should be given to all facilities for the elderly”
Kentaro Higashi, chairman of the National Health Facility Association for the Elderly, said, "Third vaccination is very important, and although it is grateful that facilities for the elderly were included in the target of shortening the interval to 6 months in some cases, a cluster occurred. Isn't it really difficult to inoculate at a facility? Is it okay to inoculate a user who may be infected? Call a staff member who is waiting at home and give a vaccine. I think that there are many issues such as whether or not it will put a burden on the site. I think that inoculation should be given to all facilities for the elderly as soon as possible. "