The government is planning to secure enough shots of the vaccine, developed by
The vaccinations come amid growing concern about a resurgence of infections in some areas, including
The central government has designated prefectures with surging cases as requiring tough measures to control the spread of the virus, but it has stopped short of declaring a third state of emergency, apparently hoping not to complicate efforts to host the postponed
The torch relay for the
With an increasing strain on the medical system amid a resurgence of infections, there is concern that doctors and nurses may not be able to keep up with the vaccination schedule.
On Monday, local governments in at least 39 of the nation's 47 prefectures are scheduled to start vaccinating elderly residents at clinics as well as facilities such as public halls and gymnasiums, according to a
Vaccine deliveries to the country's prefectures started last week with 100 boxes, each enough for two shots for 500 people, so far distributed. It is expected that the rollout will rev up from the final week of April, when all of the 1,741 municipalities in
The
The vaccination rate in
Following the elderly, people with pre-existing conditions, such as diabetes, and those working at elderly care facilities are slated to be inoculated next, after which vaccinations will eventually be extended to the rest of the population.
==Kyodo
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