Japan plans to obtain enough vaccine doses for its populace of around 126 million by mid-year Credit: Arne Müseler.

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.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

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.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

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.

Pakistan carried out a clinical trial of the vaccine, with approximately 18,000 subjects from across the country taking part.

According to the Independent Data Monitoring Committee (IDMC) analysis, the vaccine had an efficacy rate of 74.48% in preventing symptomatic cases and 100% in preventing severe disease.

Last month, DRAP granted emergency use authorisation (EUA) to China National Pharmaceutical Group’s (Sinopharm) Covid-19 vaccine.

Meanwhile, the Canadian government increased its confirmed order commitment by four million doses of the Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine taking its confirmed order commitment to a total of 44 million doses.

Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel said: “We appreciate our collaboration with the Canadian government as we seek to defeat the pandemic with our vaccine.

“Today’s increased supply agreement from the Canadian government reaffirms the confidence in Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine.”

Last December, Health Canada authorised the COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna for the immunisation of adults under an Interim Order.