The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun
Online health services eyed to combat COVID, flu outbreaks
The government has announced a plan to expand online medical services in preparation for simultaneous outbreaks of COVID-19 and seasonal in uenza in the coming winter months. One of the plan’s main points calls for people to receive in uenza examinations via telephone or online medical care in the event of a negative self-test for the novel coronavirus, targeting those from junior high school age to 64 years old who are at low risk of becoming seriously ill.
Kishida held a task force meeting to discuss measures against the possible simultaneous outbreak with representatives of the Japan Medical Association, the Japan Pharmaceutical Association and other organizations at the Prime Minister’s O ce on Oct. 13.
“We will promote the expansion of the health care system, including online medical services. We ask for your cooperation,” Kishida said.
e policy meeting outlined the ow of care patients will receive when they develop symptoms such as a fever.
e government plans to implement the measures by expanding online medical care so that fever outpatient sections can concentrate on those who are at high risk of serious illness.
Speci cally, those at high risk for severe COVID-19 or in uenza — such as elementary school students and younger, those 65 years of age and older,
those with underlying medical conditions and pregnant women — are to be examined in person at a fever outpatient clinic.
ose from junior high school age to 64 years old who do not fall into those categories will be asked to test themselves with a simple test kit for the coronavirus.
ose who test negative for the novel coronavirus and are suspected of having in uenza will have the option of undergoing examination and receiving their prescription for treatment by phone or online. However, given the small number of medical institutions that can provide online support, they will also be allowed to see their family doctor and
receive other in-person consultations.
If they test positive for the coronavirus, patients will be treated at home, as in the past, a er registering with the local government’s health follow-up center.
Experts have indicated a high possibility that a simultaneous outbreak of COVID-19 and in uenza will occur this winter. e government estimates that a simultaneous outbreak would result in 750,000 patients per day at its peak: 450,000 for the coronavirus, about double the number in the seventh wave, and 300,000 for in uenza.
According to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry’s tally as of the end of August, there are approximately 17,800 hospitals and clinics that provide online medical services, less than 20% of the total number of facilities.
e government’s measures may become di cult to realize without further expansion of online medical services.
BA.5-ADAPTED VACCINE ROLLED OUT
YOKOHAMA — A number of medical institutions in Yokohama on Oct. 13 began administering COVID-19 vaccines e ective against the omicron BA.5 subvariant, in line with the central government’s nationwide rollout.
e move allows people to choose from the omicron BA.1-adapted bivalent vaccine and the omicron BA.5-adapted bivalent vaccine, which is e ective against both the conventional virus and omicron BA.5, the currently dominant strain in Japan.
Vaccines against the BA.1 omicron subvariant — prevalent in the early stages of the omicron variant’s spread — are currently available at about 2,000 locations in the city.
e new vaccine, which will eventually replace the omicron BA.1-adapted shot — is manufactured by P zer Inc., and can be administered to people aged 12 and over.
On the day, some 59 people who made an appointment received the omicron BA.5-adapted vaccine at a Yokohama hospital.
“I’m not worried [about the vaccine] because it’s the latest iteration, though I’m a little concerned about adverse reactions,” said a 51-year-old company employee who received the updated shot. (Oct. 15)