Society

Japan may delay COVID-19 timetable for inoculating elderly

Feb 16 (Kyodok) - Japan plans to start inoculating elderly people only after the coronavirus vaccinations for frontline health workers have been administered, possibly delaying the initially anticipated start date for seniors in April, a senior government official said Monday.

The move aims to ensure a stable supply of Pfizer Inc.'s vaccine, which was formally approved by the health ministry on Sunday, the official said. Around 3.7 million health workers are to begin receiving the vaccine in March, followed by 36 million people aged 65 and older from April 1 at the earliest.

But, according to another government official, it is uncertain when Japan can receive subsequent shipments and how much, following the European Union's tightening of export controls on vaccines. Pfizer is also likely to delay its plan to increase production capacity from March.

But once a sufficient supply of vaccines has been secured, inoculations could still take place simultaneously for front-liners and the elderly.

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