Japan’s Ministry of Health claims to have approved Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine

Japan’s Ministry of Health said on Sunday it had officially approved the Covid-19 vaccine from Pfizer Inc, the first of its kind in the country, as it intensified efforts to tame a third wave of infections in the run up to the summer Olympics.

The move was widely expected after a government panel recommended approval on Friday, when Health Minister Norihisa Tamura said Japan would give its final approval as soon as possible.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said vaccinations will start in the middle of next week, starting with about 10,000 health workers. The government hopes to ensure sufficient supplies for the entire population – about 126 million people – by the middle of the year.

Much of Japan is still in a state of emergency after its third and deadliest wave of the virus hit late last year. Cases and deaths have declined in recent weeks and Tokyo reported just under 400 cases in the capital on Sunday.

Japan has so far recorded about 410,000 cases of coronavirus across the country and 6,772 deaths. The Olympic Games are due to start on July 23rd.