COVID-19: Japan To Give Free Vaccine To Residents

Japan is set to give free COVID-19 vaccines to all of its residents under a bill passed on Wednesday, as the nation records soaring numbers of daily cases.

The bill, which says the government will cover all vaccine costs for Japan’s 126 million residents, was approved by the upper house of parliament, having passed through the powerful lower house.

AFP reports that the country has secured COVID-19 vaccines for 60 million people from pharmaceutical giant, Pfizer, and for a further 25 million people from biotech firm, Moderna.

It has also confirmed it will receive 120 million doses of AstraZeneca’s vaccine.

Read also: Japan’s Suga Pledges Focus On Coronavirus But Details Remain Sketchy

Pfizer and Moderna are already seeking emergency-use approval in the United States and Europe, after clinical tests showed their jabs were effective.

The bill’s passage comes two weeks after Japan’s prime minister said the country was on “maximum alert” over the virus, and as medics warn hospitals are on the brink of collapse.

Japan has seen a comparatively small COVID-19 outbreak overall, with around 2,100 deaths and 150,000 cases, and has not imposed the strict lockdowns seen elsewhere.

But it is now facing a third wave of the disease, reporting record numbers of daily infections nationwide in recent weeks.

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