Japan’s vaccine rollout is set to start in less than two weeks. But with the rollout in other countries, including the U.S., not going as smoothly as authorities would have wanted, there are worries that it could be chaotic for Japan, too.
The rollout in Japan is the last among the Group of Seven nations, with the health ministry set to formally approve U.S. drugmaker Pfizer Inc.’s mRNA vaccine, developed jointly with Germany’s BioNTech SE, on Feb. 15. The start of vaccinations for medical professionals will follow two days later, local reports say.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s administration aims to secure enough vaccines to cover all residents by the end of June. The government has not given a timetable for vaccinations beyond those for older people starting as early as April 1, but a growing number of local governments including Osaka Prefecture are planning to complete inoculations of all willing residents by the end of September.