Tokyo begins fourth round of vaccinations for medical workers

The Yomiuri Shimbun
A medical worker receives a fourth vaccination in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, on Saturday.

The Tokyo metropolitan government began offering fourth doses of novel coronavirus vaccine to medical and nursing care workers under the age of 60 on Saturday.

The fourth dose of vaccination had been limited to those aged 60 or older and also those aged 18-59 with underlying medical conditions. In response to the rapid spread of the seventh wave of infection, the scope of vaccination has been expanded to include those who work with people at high risk of serious illness.

The Tokyo metropolitan government has three vaccination venues: the observation room of the Tokyo metropolitan government building in Shinjuku Ward; the Gyoko-dori underground walkway that extends west from Tokyo Station in Chiyoda Ward; and a site in Tachikawa.

The Tokyo metropolitan government building observation room attracted many people who wanted to be vaccinated from early in the morning on Saturday. At the three venues that Tokyo established, vaccinations are available even without an appointment or vaccination ticket.

A nurse said: “My colleagues were exhausted by the rapid increase in the number of infected people, and I wanted to get vaccinated as soon as possible. I’m relieved.”