Japan begins rolling out COVID-19 vaccines

Vaccine rollout for medical staff has begun at a Tokyo hospital on Wednesday morning, President of Tokyo Medical Center, Kazuhiro Araki took the very first vaccine to encourage others to do the same.

Vice minister of the health, labour and welfare, Hiroshi Yamamoto said that 40,000 doctors and nurses will be vaccinated at 100 hospitals around the country on Wednesday.

Japan formally approved its first COVID-19 vaccine on Sunday.

The announcement came after a government panel on Friday confirmed that final results of clinical testing done in Japan showed that the vaccine had an efficacy similar to that indicated by tests overseas.

Image: AP