November 28, 2020
Japan bracing for combined attack of covid-19 pandemic and seasonal flu
Japan's first covid-19 case, involving a male in his 30s, was reported on January 16, and since then, almost one year is about to pass. The number of infected people in Japan has been increasing steadily from month to month. The number of fatal cases is also on the increase. To be worse, Japan is facing with the possibility of a simultaneous attack of the new coronavirus pandemic and the seasonal influenza.
From March to April just after the start of the pandemic, Japanese people had difficulties finding face masks at shops, and their prices shot up in many areas.
Citizens with masks handmade, in group or individuals, came up to donate their holdings to facilities like schools, kindergartens and nursing homes. These moves were raised by the media and helped arouse an emergency mood wide among Japanese people at that time. 
This year's winter is predicted to be colder than usual in most parts of Japan. Local governments are busy preparing influenza vaccines for preventive shots particularly to elderly people and those with underlying illness. 
Elderly people are recommended to receive vaccinations at an early time, before the stock of flu vaccines for this season runs out. But those with allergic predispositions are advised to be careful about having a flu immunization.
As time has passed, various kinds of face masks are available at present, at drugstores, convenience stores and elsewhere across Japan, among them disposable and reusable masks and those for professional use.
Products with cute characters and colorful ones are seen at some shops. Face shields and mouth shields are also available at many places.
This gives a sense of security to Japanese more or less for now, but they are rather bracing for fears of the seasonal influenza toward winter.
In Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, vaccination shots were started free of charge for people aged 65 or older at the beginning of October at hospitals and clinics. These shots usually cost 1,500 yen.
"I'm allergic to an injection, so I talk to my attending physician always before receiving an immunization," said an elderly woman.
