COVID-19 Vaccinations Begin in Japan

Tokyo, Feb. 17 (Jiji Press)--Vaccinations against the novel coronavirus began in Japan on Wednesday, targeting some 40,000 medical workers. The medical workers at 100 locations nationwide, including national hospitals, will be the first to receive a COVID-19 vaccine developed by major U.S. drugmaker Pfizer Inc. Vaccinations are expected to help the population acquire herd immunity needed to contain the epidemic. Still, schedules for vaccine supplies to Japan are unclear, making it uncertain when vaccinations will be available for other people, including the elderly. The first coronavirus vaccination in the country was conducted at the National Hospital Organization's Tokyo Medical Center, given to Kazuhiro Araki, head of the hospital, followed by other doctors and nurses. After receiving the jab, Araki told a press conference the vaccine is an "eagerly-awaited powerful weapon in the fight against the coronavirus." "I thought the hospital leader should take the initiative in receiving the vaccine. I don't like injections, but this was the least painful of all inoculations I've ever had," he said. Pfizer's vaccine is a new type made by synthesizing part of the messenger RNA, which contains genetic information. The vaccine, to be injected twice at an interval of three weeks in principle, is very unlikely to cause serious side effects. The health ministry plans to have about half of the 40,000 medical workers keep a record of their temperatures and a sense of fatigue, if any, for a week after each inoculation. The ministry also plans to have them report any changes in their health conditions after the period. The results will be disclosed promptly. The government aims to start vaccinations for 3.7 million other medical workers in mid-March and 36 million people aged 65 or over from April 1. Inoculations will then be expanded to cover people with underlying conditions. But the timing is uncertain as the government is unsure when necessary amounts will be available. The central government has yet to clarify when to provide vaccines to local governments that will undertake inoculations for elderly and other people, sparking worries among local government officials making preparations. "It's irritating we cannot tell you the date for starting inoculations for the elderly. Frankly, I must apologize for the inconvenience," regulatory reform minister Taro Kono, in charge of vaccination preparatory work, told a news conference Tuesday. Meanwhile, the government will work hard to procure syringes that can draw six shots from each vial, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato told a different news conference that day. Most syringes secured so far by the health ministry can draw only up to five shots from each vial. Kato said that unused vaccine that will remain because such syringes are used will be discarded. END