Japan Vaccine Priority: Between Olympic Athletes Or Society

Tokyo Olympic Torch (Source: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Japanese government is preparing to offer COVID-19 vaccination to approximately 2,500 Olympic-Paralympic athletes as well as support staff. This comes amid citizen anger and an emphasis on the Olympics being cancelled.

Citing Reuters, with less than three months until the Olympics begin, Japan is struggling to contain a surge in COVID-19 cases. Only about 2.6 percent of Japan's population has been vaccinated at this time.

Reports last month stated that athletes would be prioritized sparking outrage on social media. IOC vice-president John Coates said that while Japan's sentiments about the Olympics were "alarming," he could not have predicted what it would be like if the worst-case scenario he chose was that the games would not continue.

"The Prime Minister of Japan said that to the president of the United States two or three weeks ago. He kept saying that to the IOC," Coates said.

On Monday 10 May, the Prime Minister (PM) of Japan, Yoshihide Suga, said the IOC would take a final decision. He insisted that his government did not prioritise the Olympics over public health.

Asked at a parliamentary committee meeting whether the Olympics would continue despite the soaring COVID-19 case, Suga replied, "I never put the Olympics first."

He added, "My priority is to protect the lives and health of the Japanese people. First of all we must prevent the spread of the virus."

Preparing the vaccine

Regardless of whether or not the Games are approved, Pfizer Inc. and its German partner, BioNTech SE, said they will donate the COVID-19 vaccine through the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to assist athletes and their delegates participating in the Olympics and Paralympics.

Officials at the Japanese Olympic Committee and the Japanese Paralympic committee say they are currently asking each athletics federation how many people want to be vaccinated and when this should be done.

"Our officials say we will make sure that we do not cause problems for the entire population," miho Kuroda said at the Japan Paralympic Committee.

A report in the Yomiuri Shimbun daily said vaccinations could begin as soon as June. But officials say the timing, as well as other details, such as who will give the injection, remains unclear

Japanese regulations say only doctors or nurses can give injections. The dentist also got the permit last month.

The IOC, organizers in Japan and the Japanese government have repeatedly promised that the Olympics will take place as scheduled from July 23 to August 8. Although criticism remains rampant both at home and abroad.

In Japan, 11,000 people have died as a result of COVID-19. The medical system is known to be disrupted by the country's latest COVID-19 wave. Tokyo recorded 925 new cases as of Tuesday, May 11.

photo: Unsplash/Hakan Nural