Japan’s Health Ministry has approved Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine as the Summer Olympic Games begin in July.
The approval marks the first in the country as it steps up efforts to fight the third wave of infections.
After a government panel recommended approval last week, Japanese Health Minister Norihisa Tamura said the country would approve the vaccine soon, Reuters reported.
The news agency quoted Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga as saying that inoculations will start from the middle of next week, beginning with some 10,000 health workers.
Furthermore, the government plans to obtain enough vaccine doses for its populace of around 126 million by mid-year.
After Japan’s third and most deadly wave of the virus hit late last year, many areas in the country are still under a state of emergency.
Separately, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) approved the emergency use of Chinese company Cansino Biologics’ Covid-19 vaccine, making it the fourth drug cleared by the regulatory authority to fight against the virus.
This is the second Chinese vaccine approved by the country and the supply of the doses will begin soon.
