MGSF01 October 5 UPDATE ON H1N1 OUTBREAK IN JAPAN

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