Kono rejects mass vaccine roll-out news to the general public in May
The head of the Japanese vaccination program COVID-19 denied media reports that vaccinations would begin in May for the general population, as the country is battling a third wave that has brought record numbers of infections and severe cases.
An unnamed source close to the government was quoted by local media, including public broadcaster NHK, as saying vaccines could hit the general public as soon as May.
The Yomiuri newspaper said that by July, ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics scheduled to begin July 23, the government was planning to inoculate much of the population.
The government has so far said that its vaccination policy is supposed to prioritize medical staff, the elderly, and people with pre-existing conditions by the end of February, but has not given a timetable beyond that.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato told a daily news briefing on Wednesday that the “timeline for vaccination for the broader population would be decided after the vaccine is approved.”
The timeline for the roll-out has garnered interest in Japan, with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga saying that the vaccines are key to a safe Olympics.
Japan has arranged to buy 540 million doses from multiple Western developers including Pfizer Inc, whose vaccine is expected to be the first to receive regulatory approval.
According to Kyodo news, while the death rate in Japan pales compared to that of many countries, daily deaths topped 100 for the first time on Tuesday, while the number of people in critical condition reached an all-time high of 1,001.
Source: Japan Today
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