
The second batch of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is seen at Narita Airport on Sunday, after arriving at the airport at about 9:50 a.m. that day.
13:16 JST, February 22, 2021
Vaccinations of the elderly will be delayed due to an extremely limited supply of COVID-19 vaccine in Japan until May, according to administrative reform minister Taro Kono, who is also in charge of vaccination efforts.
During an NHK TV program broadcast on Sunday, Kono said vaccinations for elderly people aged 65 or older, which are set to start in April, will be gradually expanded. He also revealed that he is thinking of announcing a new vaccination plan this week.
“[Vaccinations] for elderly people will be pushed back. I’d like to start gradually in April and slowly expand them,” Kono said. According to the minister, the vaccine supply from major U.S. pharmaceutical company Pfizer Inc. will increase from May onward, and the number of medical workers to be inoculated ahead of the elderly population turned out to be about 1 million more than originally planned by the government.
The government initially estimated that vaccinations for elderly people would take two months and three weeks.
“Perhaps it won’t go like that in big cities,” said Kono, who also touched on the possibility that the delay may affect the vaccination schedule for non-elderly members of the public.
According to Pfizer, the second batch of its vaccine that arrived at Narita Airport on Sunday contained 75,465 vials. With six doses drawn from each vial, that represents enough for about 450,000 vaccinations, or about 230,000 people.
Together with the first batch that arrived on Feb. 12, enough vaccine for about 840,000 doses, or about 420,000 people, has arrived in Japan..
"Society" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Typhoon Nari Approaching Japan’s Kanto Region; Heavy Rain, Strong Wind Expected on Monday
-
Over 300 Earthquakes Rumble in Sea Off Japan’s Kagoshima Pref. Islands, Putting Residents on Alert
-
Typhoon Sepat Forms near Ogasawara Islands
-
M5.1 Earthquake Hits Japan’s Kagoshima Prefecture Islands
-
46-year-old Man Killed by Bear in Japan’s Nagano Prefecture; 2nd Man Sustained Minor Injuries
JN ACCESS RANKING
-
5-Kilogram Bag of Rice Price Falls Below ¥4,000: 1st Time in 4 Months
-
Japan’s Agriculture Ministry Starts Survey of Rice Farmers Across Japan on Production Outlook
-
Japan’s Core Inflation Hits 2-year High, Keeps Rate-Hike Bets Alive
-
Japan to Collaborate with 3 European Countries on Infrastructure Development; Will Work With Romania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic to Build Railroads, Energy Systems
-
Typhoon Nari Approaching Japan’s Kanto Region; Heavy Rain, Strong Wind Expected on Monday