The Japanese government established a plan on Friday to secure enough novel coronavirus vaccines for the whole population by the first half of 2021.

 The plan is included in the government’s policy for its future response to the COVID-19 crisis that was adopted the same day.

Under the policy, the government will take steps to ensure that coronavirus carriers with light or no symptoms stay at accommodation facilities or their homes.

The government also aims to increase the country’s daily capacity of simple antigen testing to some 200,000 tests.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to announce these plans at a press conference later Friday.

The government has concluded basic agreements with US and British drugmakers to receive COVID-19 vaccine supply once they succeed in vaccine development.

The government is also expected to sign a similar deal with another drugmaker shortly.

To secure enough coronavirus vaccines, the government will use its reserve funds. This spending will be decided at an extraordinary cabinet meeting later Friday.

Meanwhile, the government plans to change how to implement the infectious disease prevention law through an ordinance revision.

The law classifies the coronavirus in the second-most-dangerous category of diseases. Critics say the classification leads to an increase in burdens on medical institutions.

The government hopes that the change will help prevent hospital capacity from being strained in autumn and later, when seasonal influenza outbreaks are expected to occur, informed sources said.

Given that early symptoms of the coronavirus are similar to those of flu, the government will boost coronavirus testing capacity. It will support the introduction of equipment for polymerase chain reaction tests while increasing antigen testing.

In areas where infections are spreading, the government will ensure that blanket coronavirus tests are conducted on workers, patients and users at medical institutions and elderly care facilities. 

It will also consider fiscal measures to secure enough staff at public health centers across the country.

JIJI Press