Japanese regulatory reform minister KONO Taro, in charge of COVID-19 vaccination coordination, expressed Sunday an intention to produce guidelines for local governments and medical institutions in order to avoid on-site confusion in the inoculation program.

The guidelines are expected to cover the proposed waiting list system for vaccinations being conducted in order of priority and blackouts caused by natural disasters.

Japan’s vaccination program started in mid-February for the first group of 40,000 medical workers, using the vaccine manufactured by US drugmaker Pfizer Inc. Vaccinations for elderly people are slated to begin on April 12.

On a television program, Kono said that “we will show our hope of facilitating vaccinations so as not to waste the vaccine,” which needs to be administered within five days of defrosting after being kept frozen at very low temperatures.

“If something unexpected occurs, workers on the frontline should make judgment,” Kono said. “I will accept all of criticism that may be caused.”

JIJI Press