COVID-19's vaccine should be free. But, what about its effectiveness? (Image via Anadolu Agency)

Japanese Government: Free COVID-19 for all

The Japanese government intends to distribute the vaccines for novel coronavirus (COVID-19) for free to all its citizens in order to flatten the curve of infection and mortality due to the severe symptoms of the pandemics. The source close to the matter stated that the target is to distribute the vaccine to as many people as possible, since COVID-19 may cause severe, lethal symptoms to those suffering from other underlying diseases.

The Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, stated that by the first half of 2021, the vaccine should be available. The elderly, people with underlying diseases, and frontline medical workers will be the first to receive it with municipalities in charge of the distribution.

Many countries have been developing the vaccine and some have even reached the clinical trial stage. Japan plans to use its reserve funds to purchase the most effective vaccine for the current fiscal year to 2021.

The Health Minister of Japan, Katsunobu Kato, said that currently, the ministry is arranging systems to administer the vaccine efficiently. Previously, Kato said that Japan had joined the international effort in developing the vaccine, COVAX, to ensure the access to the vaccine

Since there has been no report about the efficiency and degree of side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine, some officials are against the idea of differentiating the financial burden among the Japanese people. In addition, the Japanese government also needs to calculate the compensation for the vaccine manufacturers should the vaccine fail.

Source: https://bit.ly/2Z0Dz2V