Vaccinations For Elderly Begin In Japan
Coronavirus vaccinations for elderly people aged 65 and older began in Japan on Monday.
Medical workers in the country have been receiving the vaccine developed by US pharmaceutical company Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech since February.
The health ministry says that on Monday shots will be administered at about 120 locations across the country.
Around 36 million elderly residents are eligible to receive the vaccine. That figure represents nearly 30 percent of Japan's population.
Tokyo, Kanagawa, and Osaka prefectures had received 3,900 doses each by Sunday. Other prefectures had received 1,950 each.
Some municipalities have decided to start inoculating elderly people in care facilities first, as vaccine supplies are limited at this time.
The health ministry plans to increase deliveries to the municipalities. It says by the end of June it will likely have provided enough doses to allow all eligible seniors to receive two shots each.
Those who wish to be vaccinated need to make reservations by phone or online after receiving coupons from their municipal offices.
People can visit the health ministry's website to search for venues where they can get vaccinated.
The URL is: https://v-sys.mhlw.go.jp
Meanwhile, starting on Monday, Tokyo, Kyoto and Okinawa are introducing stricter measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Three other prefectures did the same last week.
Governors in those prefectures are asking bars and restaurants to close by 8 p.m.