Regarding the third inoculation of the new coronavirus vaccine, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare investigated the inoculation status of residents of facilities for the elderly nationwide, and as a result, 88% of the facilities answered that they had completed by the end of February.
Inoculation tends to be delayed in urban areas where there are many facilities, and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare is calling for urgent inoculation to those who wish.
Although the number of newly infected people with the new corona is on the decline, clusters and other outbreaks continue to occur at facilities for the elderly, reaching a record high of 509 cases nationwide in the week leading up to March 7.
Under these circumstances, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has notified that the third vaccination of the desired residents and staff at the facility for the elderly will be completed by the end of February, and summarized the vaccination status of each prefecture.
As a result, 88% of the facilities answered that they had completed vaccination by the end of February.
In addition, 95% of the facilities answered that they plan to complete the vaccination by the 15th.
Among the facilities that answered that the inoculation was completed, the highest
rate by prefecture was ▼ Tokushima prefecture at 100%, followed by
▼ Gifu prefecture at 99.8% and
▼ Yamaguchi prefecture at 99%.
The lowest was
▼ Niigata prefecture at 73%, followed by
▼ Osaka prefecture at 76% and
▼ Tokyo at 77%.
According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, inoculation tends to be delayed mainly in urban areas where there are many facilities, and in areas such as Hokkaido and the Sea of Japan side where there was record snowfall until February. I think there were some unavoidable circumstances, but I would like the local government to follow up closely and work to complete the inoculation. "
Expert "Push-type support inoculation as soon as possible"
Regarding the situation of the third vaccination at the facility for the elderly, Professor Koji Wada of the International University of Health and Welfare, a member of the expert meeting of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, said, "It has made a lot of progress, but there are no snowy areas or doctors. The facilities are a little late, so it is important to proceed with vaccination as soon as possible even at these facilities. "
After that, "From now on, family members, facility staff, medical institution officials, etc. around us will check whether the elderly have completed the vaccination, and if not, we will provide push-type support such as connecting to the vaccination site. It is necessary to protect it. "
Regarding the future infection situation, "Infection can occur until the vaccination of adults is completed to some extent. Based on the tendency of last year, the infection spreads again after the peak of the 6th wave, especially from this month to May. It is also necessary to assume that, and it is important for elderly facilities to provide support so that they can discuss how to connect to a medical institution if an infected person appears. "
Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Goto "Carefully call out to the remaining facilities"
Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Goto told reporters, "We will carefully explain each facility's individual issues one by one, and will be the largest in promoting the third inoculation at the facility for the elderly, which should be the most important. I've been doing my best. "
On top of that, regarding the facilities that have not been vaccinated yet, "I think there are unavoidable circumstances due to the outbreak of patients, rather than the idea of the facilities. I want to do it. "