TOKYO: Coronavirus vaccination for the general public in Japan is expected to start in April in remote islands of Okinawa Prefecture, regulatory reform minister Taro Kono said Tuesday.

The islands in the southernmost prefecture are Tsukenjima and Kudakajima, Kono, who is in charge of the country’s COVID-19 vaccination program, said at a press conference.

The government plans to start inoculating citizens aged 65 or over, who are given priority for vaccination, on April 12.

But for municipalities with a population of less than 1,000 and remote islands, people without priority status will be allowed to receive shots from that timing. Medical workers already started receiving vaccines last month.

Kono also said that foreign diplomats in Japan will get vaccinated under the same schedule as Japanese people.

There are about 14,000 foreigners in Japan who have passports for diplomats and for officials, Kono said.

JIJI Press