VACCINE DELAYS EXPOSES JAPAN’S FAILURE TO BACK LOCAL DRUGMAKERS

The effects of global competition for coronavirus vaccines has left Japan with a slow immunization rollout, with local production lagging and vaccine procurement from abroad has been rendered unstable by EU export controls, Ai Yokota and Yusuke Tanabe reported for Mainichi Japan.

At a March 12 press conference, Minister in charge of Administrative Reform Taro Kono said that he expects Japan will by the end of June secure about 100 million doses (enough for some 50 million people) or more of the vaccine developed by US pharmaceuticals firm, Pfizer and manufactured in countries including Belgium.

But he included a caveat: "The circumstances are still predicated on the EU giving approval." Whether the plans go ahead as envisaged is apparently down to the EU.

In the finalized contract between the European Commission and drugmakers that have signed a pre-purchase agreement, vaccines produced within the EU can only be exported with the approval of member states and the European Commission.

Six firms at the vanguard of vaccine development are affected by the export controls, including Pfizer Inc., with which the Japanese government has a procurement contract, the UK's AstraZeneca PLC, and US firm Moderna Inc.

Issues around Pfizer's ability to produce the vaccine and the export controls have played a significant part in delays to a full start in vaccinations for elderly people in Japan.

Some senior government officials have admitted to some resentment over the circumstances, and described it as "a miscalculation."

Data collation site Our World in Data, managed by the U.K.'s Oxford University and other organizations, showed that as of March 22 just 0.5% of people in Japan had received their first coronavirus vaccination. Export controls were initially expected to be lifted by the end of March, but have now been extended into late June.

An official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said with concern, "We can't say for sure there won't be another extension."

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