Delayed Covid-19 Vaccine Rollout in Japan

    As of late May 2021,  the Japanese vaccination system (Or lack thereof) had only provided vaccinations to 4% of the total population. This number is shockingly low, as other first-world countries like the United States have provided vaccines to nearly 50% of the entire population. This dangerously low percentage is primarily due to public scrutiny of foreign products, and in this situation, vaccines manufactured in other countries. The longstanding Japanese distrust of foreign products resulted in significantly extended approval processes, which delayed the importation of vaccines far longer than in other nations. This distrust mainly stems from the strong cultural tendency to participate in a more closed society and economy. 

    Regardless, as of June 2021, vaccinations have been approved, but are still being administered at an exceptionally slow rate. The issue now is not the supply, because Japan has secured enough Pfizer doses to fully immunize the entire population (Nearly 130 million), but rather a shortage of medical staff and transportation personnel. This only places more stress on Japanese officials, who are simultaneously preparing for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. The Japanese government has faced major backlash on the world stage for their low vaccination rates and is scrambling to remedy that in order to remain in good international standing. For a country that was emphasizing the importance of positive international relationships by hosting the Olympic games, the vaccination struggle has sparked unwanted discourse.