Covid Booster Shot Received By 45% In Japan
The Japanese government's figures released on Monday show that more than 45 percent of residents have received their third shots against the coronavirus.
Vaccination rates are lower for younger people. Among those aged 70 or older, more than 80 percent have received their booster shots. Only about 20 percent of those in their 20s or 30s have taken their third injection.
Looking at nationwide new infections, people in their 20s accounted for 18 percent of new cases in the week through April 5.
The health ministry is trying to promote inoculations among young people. The ministry pays the costs for university vaccination programs at venues set up by local authorities.
The ministry says a new variant of the coronavirus called XE was detected during quarantine tests for the first time in Japan. The new type contains a mix of Omicron strains.
British health authority data shows the new variant tends to spread faster than the strain that is currently becoming the main type in Japan.
Across Japan, officials confirmed 33,205 new coronavirus infections on Monday.