TOKYO: The total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered to people in Japan has surpassed 50 million, Taro Kono, minister in charge of vaccinations, said Tuesday.

In a lecture organized by Jiji Press-affiliated Research Institute of Japan, Kono said it is “possible” to achieve the government’s target of finishing vaccinations by October-November for all people who hope to receive COVID-19 vaccines.

“Enough vaccines will come in by the end of September,” the minister said.

The goal of completing vaccinations for people aged 65 or over by the end of this month is also likely to be achieved, he added.

At a press conference on the same day, Kono said the amount of COVID-19 vaccine developed by US biotechnology firm Moderna Inc. and supplied to Japan totaled 13.7 million doses as of the end of June, falling far short of the 40 million doses specified under Japan’s initial contract.

Kono attributed the slower supply to growing demand for the Moderna vaccine around the world.

“The Japanese government has secured a necessary amount (of the vaccine),” the minister stressed.

In the lecture, meanwhile, Kono praised municipal governments across Japan for their vaccination operations, saying that their underlying strength is “very high.”

Referring to relatively low vaccination rates among young people in other countries, Kono called on those in Japan to receive COVID-19 vaccines to avoid being infected and escape severe symptoms or permanent damage even if they are infected.

The minister cited the opinion of “many experts” that the effects of COVID-19 vaccines are expected to last at least around one year.

Among issues other than the pandemic, Kono was asked whether he would back Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s possible bid for re-election as president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, with Suga’s current term as LDP leader to expire in late September.

“I’ll make a decision as a minister,” Kono merely said.

Following Sunday’s Tokyo metropolitan assembly election, in which the LDP won 33 seats, the second fewest ever for the party, Kono said the party has to send strong messages ahead of the next House of Representatives election, due to be held by this autumn.

Also in the lecture, Kono highlighted the significance of government digitalization, on which the Suga administration places high priority.

With a new agency for digitalization to be launched in September, “we should conduct necessary regulatory reform in advance to allow the new agency to make a smooth start,” said Kono, also minister for regulatory reform.

JIJI Press