Osaka тАУ Japan started administering AstraZeneca PLCтАЩs COVID-19 vaccine in the city of Osaka on Monday as part of an effort to step up vaccinations.
The central government has provided a total of 52,800 doses of the vaccine to six prefectures тАФ Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Osaka and Okinawa тАФ that have been under a COVID-19 state of emergency.
The health ministry approved the vaccine developed by the British drugmaker for use in Japan in May, but its use had been put on hold due to concerns about blood clots.
Osaka will administer the vaccine to people age 40 or over in principle. It will also use it to vaccinate people age 18 or older who are unable to receive the Pfizer Inc. or Moderna Inc. vaccines due to allergies.
The city plans to administer 3,780 shots a week at Shiromi Hall in Chuo Ward. Vaccinations have been fully booked for the first seven days. It plans to open another vaccination site on Aug. 30.
тАЬI had been frustrated because I was struggling to make a reservation for other vaccines,тАЭ said a 50-year-old man who visited the hall.
тАЬI donтАЩt know which vaccine is good but IтАЩm just happy that IтАЩm getting vaccinated,тАЭ he added.
тАЬIt had been difficult to make a reservation,тАЭ said a woman in her 40s, adding, тАЬIтАЩm glad to get the first shot.тАЭ
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