Vaccination minister Noriko Horiuchi on Thursday inspected the National Institute of Infectious Diseases as part of efforts to strengthen the country's coronavirus vaccination program and cope with a possible rebound of infections.

Speaking to reporters after her first visit to the institute in Tokyo since assuming the post, Horiuchi stressed the importance of listening to the voices of people working in the field of virology to reflect their views in policymaking.

Vaccination minister Noriko Horiuchi visits the National Institute of Infectious Diseases on Thursday. | KYODO
Vaccination minister Noriko Horiuchi visits the National Institute of Infectious Diseases on Thursday. | KYODO