A new coronavirus vaccine developed by American pharmaceutical giant Pfizer arrived at Narita Airport on the morning of the 12th.
Once the vaccine is confirmed to be effective, it will soon be officially approved as the first new coronavirus vaccine in Japan, and pre-inoculation to healthcare professionals will begin.
The new coronavirus vaccine developed by Pfizer has a government contract with Pfizer to supply 72 million people.
According to aviation officials, the aircraft carrying this vaccine departed from the Belgian airport where the manufacturing plant is located on the 11th and arrived at Narita Airport on the morning of the 12th.
The vaccine developed by Pfizer is expected to be approved after discussions on its efficacy and safety at an expert group of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare on the 12th.
In the near future, Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Tamura is expected to officially approve it as the first vaccine for the new coronavirus in Japan.
In that case, advance vaccinations for healthcare professionals will begin in the middle of next week.
Furthermore, vaccinations for the elderly will begin in April, and then vaccinations will be given priority to people with underlying illnesses and workers in facilities for the elderly.
Vaccines are stored at around minus 75 degrees Celsius and will be shipped to medical institutions around the world in the future.