Correspondent
The Japanese government says its coronavirus vaccination drive is a crucial part of overall infection prevention measures. But since starting in April with inoculations for the elderly, the program has made slow progress.
According to data compiled by the University of Oxford, only 2.59 percent of the Japanese population had received at least one dose of the vaccine by May 9. That's in contrast to 62.64 percent in Israel and 52.25 percent in the UK.
People aged 65 and older became eligible to receive the vaccine on April 12, following inoculations for healthcare workers. This segment represents one third of Japan's population. In a press conference last Friday, Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide said the government hopes to administer one million doses a day and complete inoculations for elderly people who want the vaccine by the end of July.