The government said Tuesday it was looking to add emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and clinical laboratory technicians to a growing list of health care workers tapped to administer COVID-19 vaccinations, as municipalities continue to grapple with shortages of staff able to perform the task.
The move follows a similar step taken last month by the health ministry to allow dentists to perform vaccinations alongside doctors and nurses.
Japan’s relatively cautious approach contrasts with countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, where an array of health care personnel besides doctors and nurses — including dentists, pharmacists, medical students and EMTs — have been deployed to help staff inoculation programs.