The Japanese government says more than 50% of the population has been completely vaccinated
TOKYO – The Japanese government says more than 50% of the population has been completely vaccinated.
Vaccine launches in Japan began in mid-February, a few months ago in many rich countries due to their lengthy clinical trial requirements and approval process. Inoculations for elderly patients, which began in April, were also slowed by the shortage of supply of imported vaccines, but the pace increased in late May and has since reached a million doses a day.
Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, who is in charge of COVID-19 measures, told the weekly NHK public television talk show on Sunday that around 60% of the population is expected to be fully vaccinated by the end September, at the same level as current levels in Europe.
The government is studying a roadmap to ease restrictions by November, when a large majority of the population is expected to be fully vaccinated. This would allow people who are completely vaccinated and those who test negative to attend, gather for parties or attend mass events.
Advances in vaccinations have helped reduce serious cases and deaths among the elderly, but infections with virus variants spread explosively in August among the younger generations not yet vaccinated, which is severely tense. health systems.
Japan last Friday extended the ongoing state of emergency in Tokyo and 18 more areas through Sept. 30. It was scheduled to end on Sunday. The measures focus on requests from restaurants that close earlier and do not serve alcohol.
Japan has done much better than other developed countries in curbing unhindered disease and death. It has accounted for more than 1.65 million cases and 16,700 deaths.