UNCLAS TOKYO 002293

UNCLAS TOKYO

DEPT FOR OES/IHB AMBASSADOR LOFTIS
DEPT FOR EAP/J, EAP/EX, CA
USDA PASS TO APHIS, FAS FOR BURDETT
HHS PASS TO CDC
HHS FOR OGHA
DEPT PASS TO AID/GH/HIDN

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU AEMR AESC CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL PINR
AMGT, MG, EAGR, JA
SUBJECT: MGSF01 October 5 UPDATE ON H1N1 OUTBREAK IN JAPAN

REF: TOKYO 2008 and previous


1. Summary: The GOJ's task force on new influenza led by Prime
Minister Hatoyama released guidelines for vaccination against H1N1
influenza October 1. According to the guidelines, medical
professionals will be offered the vaccine first, followed by
pregnant women, children from age one through the third grade,
parents of infants under age one, and the parents of young children
who cannot be vaccinated due to allergic reaction to the vaccine.
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) anticipates
inoculations to medical professionals will start the week of October
19, and the vaccination of the four priority groups will be complete
early in 2010. MHLW contacts confirmed the vaccine will be
available to residents of Japan without regard to nationality, but
that the GOJ has not yet considered vaccinations for non-resident
foreigners in Japan. MHLW plans to source 27 million doses of
vaccine domestically and 50 million doses from international sources
by March 2010. End Summary.

GOJ H1N1 VACCINATION POLICY
--------------


2. According to guidelines released October 1 by the GOJ's
taskforce on new influenza led by PM Hatoyama, the following
population groups will be first to be vaccinated: 1) medical
professionals; 2) pregnant women and those with underlying
illnesses; 3) children from age one through the third grade; 4)
parents of infants younger than one year, and parents of children in
priority group three who are unable to be inoculated due to severe
allergic reaction to the vaccine. Once vaccination is complete for
these four priority groups, authorities will provide vaccinations to
children from the fourth through sixth grades, junior high school
students, high school students, and those aged 65 years and older,
as vaccine becomes available.


3. Local governments will inform residents when and where
vaccinations will be available. The MHLW anticipates the first
inoculations will start the week of October 19 to medical
professionals described in category one, followed by those in
category two in November, category three in December and category
four in January next year.


4. Although not explicitly stated in the guidelines, contacts at
MHLW confirmed to Econoff the vaccine will be made available to
residents of Japan regardless of nationality. Foreigners who
possess alien registration cards and are in the priority groups
should be able to make an appointment to be inoculated. However,
the GOJ has not discussed the possibility of inoculating
non-resident foreigners who are in Japan for a short time.


5. According to MHLW officials, Japan will purchase enough vaccine
to inoculate 27 million people from domestic sources and import
vaccine to cover an additional 50 million people by March 2010.

ZUMWALT