IOC Accepts CCP’s Offer of China-Made Vaccines; Team Japan Declines
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach said the organization has agreed to purchase China’s COVID-19 vaccine to administer to willing participants at the Tokyo Olympics this summer and the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022.
However, Japan’s athletes won’t be taking the China-made vaccines after the country’s Olympic committee said Japan wasn’t consulted regarding the IOC’s decision. The vaccine isn’t approved for use in Japan.
The IOC has said it will pay for Chinese vaccines for the teams participating in the Olympic Games but didn’t offer details about the cost or quantity. Bach also said that distribution of China’s vaccine will be through international agencies or existing agreements that countries have with China, according to The Associated Press.