TOKYO, Feb 20 (NNN-NHK) – Japan confirmed 1,303 new daily COVID-19 cases, bringing the country’s total tally of infections to 424,048, as the nationwide vaccination rollout is set to expand, with the second shipment of the Pfizer vaccine due to arrive tomorrow.
According to the country’s health ministry, 611 people had been inoculated by the vaccine, jointly developed by U.S. pharmaceutical firm Pfizer Inc. and its German partner, BioNTech SE. at 16 medical facilities, with hospitals in more than a dozen prefectures across the country administering the vaccine to medical workers yesterday.
By next week, the rollout is expected to reach 100 hospitals nationwide, with Taro Kono, Japan’s minister in charge of vaccination efforts, telling a press conference that, the second shipment of the Pfizer vaccine arriving tomorrow will comprise around 452,790 doses.
Kono declined to say when a third shipment of the vaccine is expected.
Around 40,000 medical workers will receive the first jabs, with 800 workers at the National Tokyo Medical Centre in the capital, comprising the first among them to be vaccinated.
Of the 40,000 medical workers at 100 facilities nationwide, 20,000 doctors and nurses will be asked to maintain records on a daily basis, for seven weeks, after taking the first of two shots, which will be administered three weeks apart.
Following the initial round of medical workers being inoculated, in Mar, around 4.7 million health workers, one million more than initially thought, will also begin receiving the vaccine, followed by 36 million people aged 65 or older, from Apr.
Following the elderly, those with pre-existing health conditions and those working at elderly care facilities, will be next in line to be vaccinated, followed by the rest of the population.
The first batch of around 400,000 Pfizer-BioNTech doses arrived one week ago, at Narita airport near Tokyo, from Brussels.
Japan’s health ministry fast-tracked and formally approved the country’s first vaccine tomorrow, for people aged 16 or older.
Tokyo, meanwhile, reported 353 new COVID-19 infections yesterday, bringing the cumulative total of cases in the capital to 109,135.
According to the latest figures from the Tokyo metropolitan government and health officials, the daily tally of new infections has remained below the 500-mark for the 13th straight day.
Officials pointed out, however, that, the figure for new infections increased from a week earlier, in the capital for a second successive day.
They also said, the number of patients designated as being in a “serious condition” and requiring hospitalisation and the assistance of ventilators or extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machines, stood at 84, with the figure unchanged from a day earlier.
Of the 353 new COVID-19 cases, the largest majority of those testing positive were aged in their 20s, followed by those in their 30s.
The third largest group was aged in their 50s, followed by those in their 40s, the local government and health officials said.
Nationwide, the death toll increased by 66 people yesterday, bringing the country’s total number of deaths to 7,378 people, according to the latest figures released last night.– NNN-NHK