Pfizer vaccine roll out in Japan

Japan’s Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare has approved the kick-off of Pfizer vaccine in Japan despite the government skipped third phase clinical trials. Pfizer released the statement saying prior samples from clinical trials from the world, proved the vaccine is safe for Japanese too. The health minister Norihisa Tamura says standard syringes in use in Japan are unable to extract the sixth and final dose from each vial manufactured by the US drugmaker. Japan secured 144 million shots of Pfizer vaccine equal to 72 million people, however the syringe problem potentially waste 1 in 6 shots, according to Kyodo news agency. Tamura says the syringes used in Japan can only draw five doses, but they will use all the syringes they have that can draw six doses, but it will, of course, not be enough as more shots are administered. https://www.pfizer.co.jp/pfizer/company/press/2021/2021_02_14.html