EXCLUSIVE: Japan May Face Tight Supply-Demand Balance for Flu Vaccines

November 27, 2018

Tokyo--Japan may face a tight supply-demand balance for influenza vaccines toward early December and the health ministry has sought cooperation from drug makers, wholesalers and prefectural governments to ensure stable supply, Jiji Press learned Tuesday.

According to the ministry, the supply volume for this season was planned at 27.2 million units as of Nov. 16, topping the 26.43 million units that were supplied last season, when a temporary supply shortage was caused due to production delays.

After examining supply and demand projections, however, the ministry found that the balance may get tight temporarily by early December, informed sources said.

The ministry thus sent letters seeking cooperation to the Japanese Association of Vaccine Industries, the Federation of Japan Pharmaceutical Wholesalers Association and the prefectural governments.

The ministry asked the vaccine manufacturers to offer precise information on delivery dates, while requesting the wholesalers to swiftly provide as many vaccines as possible from their stocks to medical institutions when the country's supply-demand balance is projected to get tight.

The ministry urged the prefectural governments to work closely with medical institutions to ensure smooth distribution of vaccines.

The ministry views that no shortage will occur this season if vaccines are used appropriately, calling on those aged 13 or over to get only one dose each in principle. Jiji Press