Setting up free COVID vaccine system

December 3 , 2020

On December 2, the House of Councilors unanimously passed a bill mandating the government to pay for a COVID-19 vaccination to anyone seeking one free of charge. Under the newly enacted bill, the state will also assume any monetary compensation if an individual experiences adverse effects to his or her health after being vaccinated.

Japan plans to inoculate the entire population by the first half of 2021, agreeing to procure 145 million doses from three foreign pharmaceutical providers. Still, the decision whether to vaccinate or not remains entirely up to each individual.

Komeito has been the principal driving force in securing the necessary dosage. It also successfully lobbied the government to participate in COVAX Facility, which will be distributing vaccines to low-income countries in an effort to eradicate the coronavirus on a global basis.