Japan Press Weekly

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2022 January 12 - 18 [POLITICS]

JCP Koike: Gov’t should take measures to hasten COVID-19 booster rollout

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira on January 11 at a press conference in the Diet building commented on government measures to tackle a surge in COVID-19 cases due to the fast-spreading omicron variant, including accelerating the booster rollout which Prime Minister Kishida Fumio announced on the day.

Koike said, “It is only natural that the government take these steps, though long overdue. It should do everything possible for immediate implementation of these measures.”

Regarding booster shots, Koike referred to medical findings indicating that neutralizing antibody values decreased six months after the second dose, and pointed out that the government policy allowing people to receive a third shot eight months after their second dose lacks medical basis. He stressed that the government should move forward with the booster rollout quickly and safely.

In addition, Koike pointed out that amid the recent surge in cases, it is necessary to build a nationwide system which provides free PCR tests for anyone at any time, but the Cabinet Secretariat has failed to deal with a shortage in test kit supplies. He said that the government should fulfill its responsibility to establish and operate such a system.

Furthermore, Koike demanded that in order to enable symptomatic patients under home isolation to be admitted to hospital, the government provide sufficient support to medical institutions’ efforts to secure the necessary numbers of beds and provide outpatient services. He also demanded that the government increase support for community-based public healthcare centers in order to protect healthcare center workers from being overwhelmed with the surge in omicron cases.