COVID-19 vaccines arrive at Tokyo hospital

COVID-19 vaccines arrived at a Tokyo hospital on Tuesday evening, a day ahead of a planned vaccine roll-out for medical staff.Japan formally approved its first COVID-19 vaccine on Sunday.

Japan's health ministry said it had approved the vaccine co-developed and supplied by Pfizer Inc.

The announcement comes 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.Under the current plan, about 20,000 front-line medical workers at hospitals in Japan will get their first shots beginning around Wednesday.

About 3.7 million other medical workers will be next, followed by elderly people, who are expected to get their shots in April.By June, it's expected that all others will be eligible.