Japan's Diet Begins Debate On Vaccination Bill
The Lower House of Japan's Diet has begun deliberating on a bill to revise the preventive vaccination law to secure vaccines for the coronavirus.
The bill would make coronavirus vaccinations free. If the vaccines are found to cause health problems, the government will pay for treatment.
In Tuesday's plenary session of the lower chamber, a lawmaker from the governing Liberal Democratic Party sought an update on negotiations being conducted with vaccine manufacturers abroad.
Health minister Tamura Norihisa replied that the government has agreed with three foreign pharmaceutical firms to receive a total 290 million doses of vaccines they may develop.
He added that the government is working vigorously to support research and negotiate with both domestic and foreign manufacturers to secure enough supplies for everyone in Japan in the first half of next year.
A lawmaker from the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party asked about the risks and benefits of using vaccines with little accumulated data.
Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide responded that while vaccines prevent infection, it is difficult to avoid harmful side effects completely, however rare they may be. He said the government prioritizes safety and efficacy, and that it will use only vaccines that have been thoroughly screened and authorized based on treatment data and the latest scientific findings.
The bill is expected to be passed during the current Diet session.
