TOKYO: Japan’s Self-Defense Forces on Monday started to vaccinate people aged 65 or over against the novel coronavirus at large venues in Tokyo and Osaka Prefecture, western Japan.

The government, which considers vaccines to be a game changer in Japan’s fight against the virus, hopes to accelerate inoculations through effective use of the SDF-operated large venues at a time when the nation is lagging behind other countries in the vaccination drive.

The Tokyo venue is located in a central government building in the Otemachi business district in the Japanese capital’s Chiyoda Ward, and the Osaka venue in the Osaka International Convention Center in Kita Ward in the city of Osaka, the capital of the western prefecture.

Doctors and nurses from the SDF, and private-sector nurses are in charge of giving vaccines and conducting pre-vaccination interviews. The number of people who will receive vaccinations at the Tokyo and Osaka venues on Monday is slated to total 5,000 and 2,500, respectively.

Up to 10,000 people will become able to get vaccinated a day in Tokyo later, according to Defense Ministry officials. The maximum daily number will rise to 5,000 in Osaka, the officials said. While vaccinations at the two venues are slated to be offered until Aug. 24, the ministry is considering extending the period for the Tokyo site.

At both sites, vaccinations will take place between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on all days, including Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, during the operating period.

In the first week to Sunday, only residents of Tokyo’s 23 special wards and those of the city of Osaka are eligible for vaccinations at the Tokyo and Osaka venues, respectively.

Between May 31 and June 6, vaccinations will be available as well to people from across Tokyo at the Tokyo venue and to residents of all areas in Osaka Prefecture at the Osaka venue, with reservations starting on Monday.

From June 7, the scope of eligible jab receivers will be expanded to include residents of Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures, all neighboring Tokyo, and those from Kyoto and Hyogo prefectures, both adjacent to Osaka Prefecture.

The venues will use a vaccine developed by U.S. biotechnology firm Moderna Inc., which was approved by the Japanese government on Friday. So far, a vaccine developed by major U.S. drugmaker Pfizer Inc. has been used mostly in Japan’s novel coronavirus vaccination program.

The ministry plans to administer leftover vaccines resulting from cancellations of reservations to SDF members and private-sector nurses engaged in the inoculation missions at the Tokyo and Osaka venues, and other staff members involved in the operations of the sites.

JIJI Press