4th Shipment Of Covid - 19 Vaccine Arrives In Japan


4th shipment of COVID-19 vaccine arrives in Japan

The fourth shipment of a coronavirus vaccine has reached Japan.

The vaccine, developed by US pharmaceutical firm Pfizer, arrived at Narita Airport, near Tokyo, from Belgium on Monday.

The cargo, in special cartons packed with dry ice, was transported by truck to a storage facility outside the airport.

Government officials say the latest shipment is almost double the amount of the third shipment. They say the delivery is equivalent to up to about 990,000 doses -- the largest volume since the first shipment last month.

Japan has secured up to about 2.36 million doses to date.

The health ministry says it will be able to deliver enough doses to administer two shots to medical workers in all prefectures by the first half of May.

The ministry also says the vaccination of about 36 million elderly people will start April 12. It says enough doses to give two shots to everyone aged 65 or above will be delivered by the end of June.