Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga signaled Wednesday that all residents wishing to be vaccinated will be able to receive their shots by November, a bold declaration as his administration seeks to reassure the public that the pandemic’s end is near in the country ahead of a looming general election.
Suga’s remark comes as vaccinations have picked up speed across the country, after his administration faced criticism for an initially slow rollout. Ahead of a snap election that must be held by late October, the prime minister has essentially made an all-or-nothing bet on vaccines delivering success for his administration.
“I want vaccines to have been given to all residents who want to receive them by the October-November period,” Suga said during a one-on-one faceoff with Yukio Edano, who heads the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, in parliament.