People wait to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in Tokyo, Japan on May 24, 2021. Photo: AFP/VNA According to the Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Tokyo, speaking at a press conference after announcing the extension of the state of emergency for nine provinces on May 28, Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide emphasized his determination to deploy COVID-19 vaccine vaccination for people under 65 years of age, including those with underlying medical conditions, starting at the end of next month. Regarding vaccine supply, Prime Minister Suga affirmed that the government will ensure the necessary amount of vaccine for the vaccination campaign with 100 million doses expected to arrive in Japan by the end of June and another 100 million doses to be added. September. The specific vaccination time of each locality will be decided on the basis of the positive results of vaccination for people over 65 years old, and the location can also be expanded to implement in the workplace. jobs or universities. Prime Minister Suga said the Japanese government will do its best to soon return to normal life for the people with efforts to speed up the pace of COVID-19 vaccination. Currently, the vaccination rate is around 400,000-500,000 times/day, but from June it will be increased to 1 million times/day. Japan started the COVID-19 vaccine vaccination campaign in February, basically giving enough shots for medical staff who are the frontline force against the epidemic. With the operation of two large-scale vaccination centers in Tokyo and Osaka from May 24, as well as positive results from the negotiation to buy vaccines, the Japanese government is expected to be able to vaccinate the entire population. the entire population from the end of June, 1 month earlier than originally planned. In addition, children will also be included in vaccination after the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) has licensed Pfizer’s vaccine to expand the vaccination age from 12-15 years old. . Meanwhile, the pharmaceutical company Modena has also submitted clinical data to the MHLW and may be approved for injections in subjects 12 years of age and older next month.

Tokyo’s overlapping messages have drawn criticism, as the country lags behind countries like the US in vaccinations. Japan has recorded about 695,000 new coronavirus infections and 12,000 deaths. The country is facing a new wave of infections in the context of the Tokyo Olympics approaching. Many Japanese prefectures are still in a state of emergency to limit the spread. Tokyo has contracts with three suppliers, under which it will have 120 million doses of AstraZeneca, 50 million doses of Moderna (to be completed by the end of September) and is negotiating an additional 50 million doses, along with 194 doses of Pfizer calculated. until the end of this year. With this number, Japan will have enough vaccine to vaccinate the entire population of 126 million people, according to Japan Times . On May 21, the country approved the use of the Moderna vaccine for people 18 years of age and older, but AstraZeneca has not yet been approved for the public. The Japanese government’s vaccination program is using the Pfizer vaccine, while the Moderna vaccine will be rolled out from next week in Tokyo and Osaka. Many concerns when using vaccines The biggest barrier to new vaccine doses available in Japan is the screening process, which evaluates efficacy and safety based on clinical trial data. Like other covid-19 vaccines, doses of AstraZeneca are classified as an emergency measure in pandemic response in Japan, used only when the Health Ministry allows the city governments. The licensing action requires a separate approval process, which includes a subcommittee on vaccines from the Ministry of Health meeting to discuss the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine in Japan in a broader context based on: fruit; alternatives from Pfizer and Moderna; Japanese immunization schedule and potential side effects. Pfizer’s covid-19 vaccine is shipped in Tokyo, Japan, February 16. Photo: AP. However, the road to deploying vaccines in the real world is still fraught with thorns, due to growing concerns about potential side effects of vaccines. There have been reports of a small number of people receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine developing blood clots, including in some cases death. This condition usually occurs in younger age groups. The UK reported 79 cases of AstraZeneca vaccination at the end of March, out of 20.2 million doses administered. As a result, 19 people died, of which 11 were under the age of 50. This has led some countries to restrict vaccination of the elderly – a direction that seems unlikely for Japan. The plan is still open Japan has given the Pfizer vaccine to the elderly and will start providing the Moderna vaccine at mass vaccination sites on May 24. The country has guaranteed enough doses for more than 122 million people, of which more than 110 million people aged 16 and over are allowed to receive the vaccine. Vaccination site for people 65 and older in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, Japan on April 12. Photo: Kyodo. Given that Japan already has sufficient supplies for the vaccination campaign for the elderly, with a goal of completing it by the end of July, the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine for this age group in Japan is unlikely. On May 21, the vaccine subcommittee continued to discuss what should be done with the AstraZeneca vaccine. It is not yet clear when a decision will be made on the matter, the Health Ministry said. With so many people waiting to be vaccinated, one expert argues that the government should not ignore any vaccine. Otherwise, the Japanese public, with the exception of the elderly, will not receive any vaccines until the fall. “We may not even get there by the end of the year,” Gakushuin University economics professor Wataru Suzuki wrote in a commentary for Nikkei . “Certainly people who want to be protected from the virus as soon as possible have a need to be vaccinated, similar to those who want a vaccine passport to be able to travel abroad on business, and the Ministry of Health is going too far by how to eliminate options,” he argued. Where will 120 million doses go? The Japanese government has reached an agreement to purchase 120 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, all manufactured in Japan, using undiluted solutions from the United States. Of these, 30 million will be manufactured by Daiichi Sankyo and KM Biologics, and 90 million doses will be manufactured by JCR Pharmaceuticals. However, it is not clear how many of these vaccines have been produced Nikkei Asia. Imports and production begin this spring. Daiichi Sankyo and KM are both preparing to ship the vaccine once it is approved by the government. The mid-range drug maker has started production using equipment and technology from AstraZeneca. JCR has announced plans to build a new factory. The US and Japan will have to find a way to handle the 120 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine developed by the Universities of Oxford and AstraZeneca without any plans to use them. Photo: Reuters. AstraZeneca says its completed vaccine can be stored in the refrigerator for at least half a year at 2-8 degrees Celsius. It’s uncertain at this point how many vaccines are ready to be manufactured. If there is no decision on where to use the vaccine in the next six months, the stockpile could expire. The US has yet to start rolling out the AstraZeneca vaccine. However, the country has agreed to purchase 300 million doses and already has shipments ready to deliver. Currently, the US plans to ship the unused vaccine elsewhere.

Japanese students get acquainted with the tablet. Children can only buy tablets that are in the price range of about 60,000 – 70,000 yen (12.6 – 14.7 million VND). Many parents and students expressed disappointment and anger at the new pressure on family finances. “We feel very angry,” said an anonymous reader of the Kyoto Shimbun newspaper. Who will spend money on a tablet after the terrible economic impacts of Covid-19? “. Another parent said that the revenues at the beginning of the school year alone for uniforms, textbooks, backpacks, and bus tickets cost 200,000 – 300,000 yen. This person questioned why students are required to own a separate tablet, not share it with their family, or buy a new one that costs no more than 20,000 yen. Others also said that in addition to not having enough money to buy tablets, many families do not have WiFi or Internet connection. The new policy of Kyoto prefecture could increase the learning gap between students and the gap between rich and poor in society. The Japanese government has issued a regulation that requires every high school student to be equipped with an electronic device such as a tablet computer or a laptop. The National Budget Fund will fund equipment for elementary and middle school students. However, the high school level is not part of the compulsory education program in Japan, so students have to buy it themselves. Some localities can buy on behalf of students through public funds. According to a survey by the Ministry of Education of Japan, only 12 prefectures will fund technology equipment for students and 15 prefectures will require their families to pay for themselves, but there are different policies. During the 2021 school year, five high schools in Kyoto asked 10th graders to equip learning devices including 32 GB iPad 10.2 inch Gen8 (35,000 yen), keyboard and panel (8,470 yen), registration and installation fee. reservations (4,400 yen), 1-year warranty (6,300 yen) and stylus (8,690 yen). Thus, students who are admitted to the school have to spend about 68,000 yen to buy school equipment. Not to mention the beginning of the school year revenues are also close to the cost of buying tablets. In response to the backlash from parents and students, the Kyoto Prefectural Education Commission said it was considering allowing low-income households to rent tablets or borrow money without interest. The representative of the education sector in Kyoto affirmed that tablets are an important and indispensable learning tool for high school students this year and for many years to come. With 10th graders, they can store and systematize the 3-year curriculum in just one handheld device. Tablets also integrate many other educational technology products such as electronic dictionaries and pocket calculators, helping students to save on fees for these devices. Moreover, with the current epidemic situation, high school students in Japan will continue to study remotely, so technology equipment is indispensable. In contrast to Kyoto Prefecture, the Hiroshima Prefectural Education Committee has issued a regulation to allocate or support the cost of purchasing technology equipment for high school students from low-income families. It is expected that about 2,700 families in the province will enjoy the support policy. The Tokyo Metropolitan Education Commission also requires families to equip their own tablets for high school students. However, families can choose products with different models and prices depending on their financial capacity.

Professor Vo Tong Xuan was an international student in Japan in 1974. He studied at Kyushu University with research topics related to rice cultivation techniques in the tropics and completed his Doctoral Program ( Agronomy) here. After returning home, he continued to work at Can Tho University and together with Japanese researchers continue to do research topics related to rice cultivation techniques; publish many scientific articles, dissemination articles on agricultural techniques and policies on the mass media. Then, as a pioneer in the academic exchange between Japan and Vietnam in the field of Agronomy, he built the first foundation for cooperation between the two sides and delivered exert his best in this role. In 1997, as a research fellow and visiting lecturer of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University, he came to Japan for 1 year and had many research related to the model. Japan’s agricultural cooperative, as well as acting as a focal point for arranging study tours in Japan for Vietnamese farmers and policy-makers. After returning home, based on the research results at Kyoto University, he gave many introduction about agricultural policy, especially Japanese agricultural cooperatives, Japanese agricultural techniques in Japan. conferences in Vietnam. In addition, as an agronomist, he has made great contributions to strengthening cooperation in the agricultural sector between Japan and Vietnam through Japan’s ODA Cooperation Programs. ..

Professor Vo Tong Xuan (right) was honored to receive the Certificate of Merit from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Photo: B.NG Professor Vo Tong Xuan studied in Japan in 1974, studying at Kyushu University with research topics related to rice cultivation techniques in the tropics and completed his doctoral program (Agronomy) here. After returning home, he continued to work at Can Tho University and together with Japanese researchers continued to work on topics related to rice cultivation techniques and together published many articles. science, popularization of agricultural techniques and policies. Then, as a pioneer in academic exchanges between Japan and Vietnam in the field of agronomy, he built the first foundation for cooperation between the two sides. In 1997, as a researcher and visiting lecturer at the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at Kyoto University, he came to Japan for 1 year and had many studies related to the agricultural cooperative model of Japan, as well as acting as a focal point for study tours in Japan for Vietnamese farmers and policy makers. After returning home, he introduced about agricultural policies, especially agricultural cooperatives and agricultural techniques of Japan. He also has many contributions to strengthening cooperation in the agricultural sector between Japan and Vietnam through Japan’s ODA cooperation programs. Typically the first Japanese cooperation program on agricultural engineering training through a cooperation project with the Faculty of Agriculture, Can Tho University (1970-1975), in the framework of a tripartite cooperation. Japan’s first time in Africa in the program “African Rice Development Alliance” initiated by JICA, advised and had many contributions in the “Technical Improvement Project to improve rice yield in the region. area of ​​Nante, Zambezia province, Mozambique ”(period 2011-2015) …

At the present time, more than 1.25 million tons of contaminated water are stored in tanks at the plant. Pictured is workers involved in cleaning up Japan’s No. 1 Fukushima nuclear power plant after the 2011 disaster. (Source: AFP) On April 26, during a regular press conference in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Uong Van Ban said that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had confirmed that it would invite water experts. This group joins the working group on a plan to release treated radioactive wastewater from Japan’s No. 1 Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea. After the 2011 disaster, water pumped into the damaged reactors at the No. 1 Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant to cool the fuel rods. Along with contaminated rainwater and groundwater, the reactor’s cooling wastewater is treated with an Advanced Liquid Treatment System (ALPS). ALPS removes most radioactive substances, including strontium and cesium, but cannot remove tritium. At the present time, there are more than 1.25 million tons of wastewater that has been treated but still contains radioactive substances being stored in storage tanks at the plant. On April 13, 2021, more than 10 years after the incident at the factory, the Japanese government decided to discharge this wastewater into the sea. The IAEA expressed support for Japan’s decision to discharge treated wastewater into the sea, and affirmed its readiness to provide technical assistance in monitoring this discharge. (Reuters)

Treated contaminated wastewater tanks at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. Photo: AFP / VNA Mr. Aso ensures that wastewater discharged into the sea will be treated according to the plan announced by the Government, whereby the concentration of radioactive tritium in wastewater will be diluted to 1,500 becquerel / liter, equivalent to 1/40 of the permitted concentrations are according to Japanese safety standards and 1/7 of the World Health Organization (WHO) standards for drinking water, before being released into the sea. The discharge of this wastewater into the sea will be implemented in about 2 years. After the 2011 disaster, water pumped into the damaged reactors at the No. 1 Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant to cool the fuel rods. Along with contaminated rainwater and groundwater, the reactor’s cooling wastewater is treated with an Advanced Liquid Treatment System (ALPS). ALPS removes most radioactive substances, including strontium and cesium, but cannot remove tritium. At the present time, there are more than 1.25 million tons of wastewater that has been treated but still contains radioactive substances being stored in storage tanks at the plant. On April 13, more than 10 years after the factory incident, the Japanese government decided to discharge this wastewater into the sea. The IAEA expressed support for Japan’s decision to discharge treated wastewater into the sea, and affirmed its readiness to provide technical assistance in monitoring this discharge. Before the Japanese decision, the Russian Foreign Ministry on April 15 expressed concern about this issue, at the same time urged Japan to approach the issue of wastewater treatment from the Fukushima nuclear power plant with all responsibility. responsibility. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova expressed her expectation that the Japanese government would show transparency and inform all countries concerned about Tokyo’s actions. In addition, Ms. Zakharova added that Russia is waiting for Japan to have more detailed explanations, while calling on Tokyo not to make economic activities of other countries difficult, including in the fishing industry. fish. On the same day, Chinese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Wu Jiang Hao (Wu Jianghao) summoned the Japanese Ambassador to the country Tarumi Hideo to present a note protesting the decision to discharge treated radioactive wastewater into the sea. Stored at the No. 1 Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Waste water storage tank inside the Fukushima nuclear power plant No. 1 The purpose of the move is to allay concerns about Tokyo’s plan to release the treated water of the damaged Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. The wastewater generated from the aforementioned damaged nuclear power plant is stored in tanks located on the plant’s premises, and is expected to have no storage space next year. According to Japan’s NHK Radio, wastewater has been treated with the Advanced Liquid Treatment System (ALPS) to remove most of the radioactive material, but radioactive tritium remains. Before being discharged into the sea, water will be diluted so that the concentration of tritium is much lower than the national standard and will be about one-seventh of the World Health Organization’s drinking water standard. However, this plan of the Japanese government has met with fierce opposition from the local fishing community, anti-nuclear activists as well as neighboring China and South Korea. In an interview with NHK Radio, Mr. Grossi said that the Japanese Government has officially requested the IAEA to cooperate in relation to this plan. The agency may send a team of experts from various countries to help alleviate concerns by verifying that the treated water discharge is safe, said the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency. full. “We may be receiving experts from different fields from different countries and regions. Any serious concerns will have the opportunity to be discussed and analyzed technically, ”said Grossi, emphasizing, cannot ignore the concerns of some local residents and neighboring countries such as Korea and China. “Regarding these concerns, we can either agree or disagree, but all must be taken seriously. We have a shared responsibility, ”added Grossi.

Mr. Zhao also emphasized that “the ocean is not the trash of Japan”. The same message he posted on Twitter personally.

Zhao’s statement came after the Japanese government approved a project to discharge 1.25 million tons of treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea.

Earlier, on April 13, Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso said in a press conference that “there will be no harm” when drinking treated water, and he said that Japan should drain water sooner. .

Foreign Ministry spokesman Trieu Lap Kien. Photo: Twitter.

The Chinese spokesman also mentioned Minamata disease, saying Japan “should not forget the historic tragedy” and urged Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga not to discharge wastewater into the sea without the consent of other countries.

Miamata disease is a neurological disease that has killed nearly 2,000 Japanese people, and is caused by a Japanese company discharging methyl mercury waste into the environment.

According to the plan, Japan will discharge wastewater into the sea within the next two years. The government said wastewater was treated and diluted to meet World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water standards. However, treatment cannot remove tritium – a radioactive isotope of hydrogen.

Although Japan’s decision to discharge wastewater was approved by the United States and the IAEA, it faced opposition from the country’s fishing industry and neighboring countries. The Chinese spokesperson stated that Japan must reach a consensus of all concerned before proceeding with the discharge.

Mr. Zhao also warned: “China has the right to make follow-up reactions.”

Foreign Ministry spokesman Trieu Lap Kien.

“The oceans are not Japan’s trash, the Pacific is not Japan’s sewage trench. The world does not have to pay the price for Japan’s discharge of radioactive water. On some Japanese officials say,” “Nothing will happen even if you drink this”, please drink first, then we will talk, “Foreign Ministry spokesman Trieu Lap Kien said at a press conference on the 14th. / 4.

“We call on the Japanese side to be aware of their responsibilities, to adhere to a scientific approach, to fulfill international obligations and to take into account the serious concerns of the world community and neighboring countries. and the people of our own country, “added the Chinese diplomatic representative.

Earlier, on April 13, the Japanese government announced a plan to discharge more than 1 million tons of radioactive contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific.

According to the roadmap, the discharge will begin in about two years, and the entire process is expected to take decades.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said that the decision to release polluted water into the Pacific was the “most realistic” and “inevitable” option to achieve the recovery of Fukushima “.

Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso affirmed that this water source has been treated, diluted, will be very safe, drinkable, and said that Japan should discharge water sooner.

About 1.25 million tons of water has accumulated in the area of ​​the Fukushima nuclear plant after the tsunami hit in 2011.

The amount of radioactive water is increasing by about 140 tons per day, is currently stored in more than 1,000 tanks and is expected to run out of storage space by next fall.

Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide said the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other third parties will be involved in the plan, ensuring the discharge of treated wastewater in Fukushima into the sea is carried out. transparent way.

In a recent statement, the IAEA confirmed to support this decision, because radioactive elements, except tritium, will be removed from the water or reduced to a safe level before being discharged. The IAEA has also shown that nuclear plants around the world use a similar process to treat wastewater.

However, Japan’s discharge has met with opposition from fishing communities in this country as well as concerns from neighboring countries such as China and South Korea.

South Korea expressed “serious concern” that the Japanese decision would have a direct and indirect impact on the safety of its people and the surrounding marine environment.

South Korea urged Japan to provide more information on its wastewater discharge and said it would measure and monitor the radiation itself.

The above comments of Mr. Konstantin Roginsky, deputy director of the Institute of Oceanography of the Russian Academy of Sciences shared with the media on April 13.

“The amount of wastewater announced by the Japanese side is a small amount. This is a drop of water in the ocean. Even in the worst case, if the wastewater is poorly treated, this heavy water will sink to the bottom and lie at a depth of 5-6-8 km, ”said Mr. Roginsky.

The waste water is planned to be discharged into the ocean, not posing a threat to the ecosystem of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, because the currents in that area go from north to south in the direction of the Russian scientist. Japan”.

The wastewater discharge will begin in about two years and the entire process is expected to take decades. (Image: Reuters)

According to Roginsky, the discharge of wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant does not pose a threat to the Sea of ​​Japan, which is separated from the Pacific by islands of Japan. “US naval bases are much more harmful to Japan’s coastal fisheries,” added Roginsky.

“About 1.5 million tons of wastewater will be dumped into the ocean. Accordingly, the water is diluted, losing its natural salinity. This can be more harmful to marine organisms than it is with poor radiation release. They are used to living at a certain salinity, at a certain depth, in a certain chemical composition of water, ”explained the Russian expert.

Also commenting on the contemporary Japanese announcement of the discharge of wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, the expert of the Federal Council on Agricultural Policy – Food and Environmental Management, Ms. Natalia Sokolova undertook that if the wastewater is properly purified, there will be no radioactive threat to Russia.

“Right now, the amount of liquid accumulated is very large. Most of it is regular water. If purified from all harmful impurities, including tritium, the wastewater can be safely discharged into the oceans, as well as the coastal waters of other countries will not be affected. “, Ms. Sokolova shared with Sputnik.

According to the ecologist, discharging water from nuclear power plants is a common process for operating plants. But Fukushima is an emergency, so it is not known whether or not an operation will be able to proceed. It will become clear by 2023 whether wastewater can be filtered to the required parameters.

“Rigorous laboratory analyzes should be performed during the entire wastewater purification process. Two years prior to discharge is called approximate figure. I am sure that the Japanese government will make a decision on the outcome of the wastewater purification process. So far, these are just plans and the reality is that not all wastewater can be 100% purified ”, believes Ms. Sokolova.

Japan insists it is safe to discharge water from the plant as it has been treated to remove most of the radioactive elements and will be diluted. (Image: Reuters)

Meanwhile, Dmitry Lisitsyn, President of the Far East (Russia) environmental protection organization, said that the discharge of wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan would lead to radioactive pollution. was brought to the heart of the North Pacific, where Pacific salmon are inhabited.

“The Fukushima nuclear power plant is located on the Pacific coast of Honshu Island. When radioactive pollution enters the Pacific off the coast of Honshu, they are quickly transported to the northeast by the Kuroshio currents, then into the North Pacific stream. All polluted wastewater is sent directly to the North Pacific. How does this threaten Russia? The fish forage in the North Pacific, then infiltrate the Russian table and there will be more before the polluted wastewater completely disappears, “RIA quoted Mr. Lisitsyn.

Lisitsyn noted six Pacific salmon species live in the Far East. They spawn in rivers, feed and grow in the ocean. Specifically in the central region of the North Pacific. This is exactly the site where this pollution was done.

What does the IAEA say?

Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi, welcomed the decision of the Japanese Government to discharge wastewater from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea and promised that the organization would assistance to avoid negative consequences.

“I welcome Japan’s announcement of how they will treat wastewater stored at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. The IAEA will work with Japan before, during and after discharge to help ensure this is done without negatively affecting health and the environment, ”wrote Grossi on Twitter.

According to Mr. Grossi, the controlled discharge of water into the sea is regularly used by nuclear power plants operating in the world and in the region, they comply with strict environmental safety standards and regulations. .

The start of wastewater discharge is expected to be around 2023. At the current rate of storage in reservoirs, all available reservoirs will be filled by the end of 2022.

Earlier, speaking at a press conference on April 13, Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide announced that it would discharge more than 1 million tons of wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea, saying that the discharge of water into Thai waters Binh Duong was the “most realistic” and “inevitable” option to achieve the recovery of Fukushima.