Japan ramps up mass vaccinations amid COVID-surge

(FASTNEWS | JAPAN) – Japan has kicked off a mass vaccination programme in Tokyo and Osaka, as the Covid crisis worsens.

The military has set up centres offering thousands of shots each day, prioritising the elderly.

The country’s vaccination drive started late and was hampered by supply shortages and organisational hurdles.

As a result, Japan is lagging significantly behind other developed nations. Only about 1.9% of the population is fully vaccinated.

Japan’s efficient healthcare system has been increasingly overwhelmed by the latest surge, with some hospitals running out of beds and ventilators.

Large parts of Japan are currently under a state of emergency to give regional authorities more power to enforce measures against the pandemic.

The country has recorded more than 700,000 infections and 12,000 Covid-19 deaths from the virus.

With the Tokyo Olympics scheduled to start in July, there’s mounting pressure to call off the Games.