May 8, 2021
The health ministry has asked all prefectures to actively consider setting up mass inoculation centers using U.S. drugmaker Moderna Inc.’s COVID-19 shot as the government looks to quickly ramp up the vaccine rollout amid signs of an explosive rise in new variant cases.
With the approval of a second and a third vaccine for emergency use expected in less than two weeks, the government is aiming to minimize the impact to municipal governments existing vaccine networks. These networks have been using U.S. drugmaker Pfizer Inc.’s vaccines, but the new vaccines made by Moderna and British drugmaker AstraZeneca PLC would need to be handled and stored differently.
Japan support groups continue to help those in need as COVID-19 crisis persists Sorry, but your browser needs Javascript to use this site. If you re not sure how to activate it, please refer to this site: https://www.enable-javascript.com/
People receive free food at St. Ignatius Church in Tokyo on Monday. | KYODO
Jiji May 5, 2021
Activities by support groups continued during the Golden Week holiday period through Wednesday in order to help people hit hard by the prolonged COVID-19 crisis.
Among those who have gathered for free meals and other services in recent months are young people and people with children, groups that were rarely seen at such venues before.
A rescue worker receives a COVID-19 vaccination in Tokyo on May 2. (Yuki Edamatsu)
Ambulance crews are among the unsung heroes of the pandemic, performing their essential task of rushing patients with fevers to hospitals even though many of them have yet to receive inoculations against the novel coronavirus.
In short, they are putting their lives on the line in carrying out their public duties, a situation that one health expert warned could prove catastrophic if the vaccination program does not pick up speed.
“If rescue workers become infected, who is going to transport patients with fevers,” said Koji Wada, a professor of public health at the International University of Health and Welfare. “The effects would be unfathomable.”