On the 2nd, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare reported to a specialist committee that the supply of COVID-19 vaccines this season is expected to be approximately 32.24 million doses. This amount will be enough for about 80% of people aged 65 and over and those aged 60 to 64 with underlying conditions who are eligible for regular vaccinations starting on October 1st.

According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, there are approximately 25.27 million doses of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines, approximately 4.27 million doses of a new type called “replicon” vaccine, in which mRNA is replicated inside cells, and approximately 2.7 million doses of recombinant protein vaccines.

The supply of influenza vaccines is expected to be 27.34 million bottles, which is less than last season’s 31.35 million bottles, but if used appropriately, there will be no shortage.

Until this season, influenza vaccines have been produced as a quadrivalent vaccine that covers two types of type A viruses and two types of type B viruses. However, as one type of B virus, the “Yamagata lineage,” has hardly been detected in the last three years, the plan is to exclude it from next season.