Further speeding up vaccinations

Creating a steady trend to contain the spread of the virus. What holds the key to accomplishing this is to make vaccines—the most effective weapon—available quickly and widely, and we must therefore further accelerate our vaccination efforts.

For this reason, the TMG has been gradually expanding the number of mass vaccination centers it operates. We have been vaccinating people who are the backbone of the residents’ lives, including those affiliated with the police, fire department, and education. And, this month, in cooperation with universities and business associations, Tokyo has started vaccinating students and employees of small and medium-sized companies. We have also set up a vaccination site where those who have difficulty moving about by themselves can get vaccinated while remaining in a car driven by their caregiver.

Furthermore, we will work to promptly vaccinate young people, among whom the infection is quickly spreading. To this end, this month, the TMG will open a vaccination site exclusive to young people near JR Shibuya Station to let them receive vaccines without reservations. We will also be rolling out campaigns using smartphone apps. In addition, we have been distributing some of our stock of vaccines to the municipalities to be used to vaccinate upper middle-aged citizens, and we have also been repeatedly pressing the national government to secure a sufficient supply of COVID-19 vaccines. In Tokyo, about 60 percent and 40 percent of the residents are expected to have received their first and second doses of the vaccine, respectively, by the end of this month. We will take all possible measures to ensure that those who want to receive a vaccination can get vaccinated as soon as possible.