On Japanese Twitter, the hashtag "Let's unplug"
In various locations across Japan, incidents of power plugs being pulled from refrigerators storing COVID-19 vaccines have been occurring repeatedly. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Incidents of refrigerators storing COVID-19 vaccines being unplugged and resulting in vaccine disposal are occurring repeatedly across Japan. The cause of the unplugging has not yet been confirmed. However, foreign media have pointed out that posts with the hashtag '#UnplugThePlug' are spreading on social media (SNS) within Japan.
According to Jiji Press on the 28th (local time), since the end of May, incidents of vaccine storage refrigerators being unplugged have occurred across Japan, leading to the disposal of a total of 2,100 vaccine doses.
In particular, on the 19th, at a COVID-19 vaccination site in Neyagawa City, Osaka Prefecture, the refrigerator plug was unplugged, resulting in the disposal of 510 vaccine doses. The on-site staff confirmed that the refrigerator was powered on the day before the incident, but when they came the next morning, the cord was unplugged. Although the police were asked to investigate, there were no signs of anyone breaking in during the night.
Meanwhile, in Ashiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, the plug of a vaccine refrigerator was found unplugged on the morning of the 25th. A city official stated, "There is no evidence that any staff member accidentally unplugged the cord," and added, "The cause is unknown."
On the 16th, a netizen claiming to be a "political organization leader" mentioned the plug incident that occurred in Odashi, Shimane Prefecture, tweeting "Thank you #UnplugThePlug". Photo by Twitter screen capture.
Similar incidents have been occurring in Japan for about a month since the end of last month, but in most cases, the cause of the unplugging could not be identified. Regarding this, a representative from a vaccine refrigerator manufacturer said, "Unless someone deliberately bends down to unplug the plug, it is hard to believe it came out naturally."
Meanwhile, on Japanese Twitter, since the end of May, the hashtag '#UnplugThePlug' has been spreading as part of an anti-vaccine movement.
Among these, on the 16th, a user who introduced themselves as the "leader of a political group opposing vaccines" posted a case of vaccine disposal in Odashi on Twitter with a comment saying "Thank you," which caused controversy. In response, Japanese netizens speculated that the unplugging might have been the work of such groups. However, no connection to the incident has yet been confirmed.
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