Japan's COVID-19 vaccine rollout expands beyond Tokyo area
Japan expanded its COVID-19 vaccine rollout beyond the Tokyo metropolitan area on Thursday, with health workers set to be inoculated at 100 hospitals across the country by next week.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga inspected the program at the Tokyo Medical Center, the first institution to begin administering Pfizer Inc.'s vaccine the previous day.
"I felt that health workers are placing much hope on vaccinations," he said after speaking with staff at the state-run hospital. "I hope to deliver vaccines to people nationwide as soon as possible."
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga watches a person being vaccinated at Tokyo Medical Center on Feb. 18, 2021. (Kyodo)