AstraZeneca to produce 90mn COVID-19 vaccine shots in Japan

TOKYO: AstraZeneca Plc will make more than 90 million coronavirus vaccine shots in Japan, the top government spokesman said on Thursday, as concerns mount over whether the country will have enough doses to begin its delayed inoculation campaign.

The British company confirmed to Japan's health ministry it will make the bulk of the vaccines within the Asian nation, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato told reporters.

"We believe it is very important to be able to produce the vaccines domestically," Kato said.

Japan plans to begin its inoculation push in late February, with Pfizer Inc's vaccine shots for front-line medical workers.

The country trails most major economies in starting inoculations due its dependence on overseas makers and a requirement that the vaccines go through domestic trials.

Japan's has arranged to buy 120 million doses of the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford. The Nikkei newspaper reported yesterday that 90 million doses would be made in Japan while the remainder will be imported.

AstraZeneca began Japanese trials of the vaccine, known as AZD1222, last summer and has partnered with Daiichi Sankyo Co , JCR Pharmaceuticals Co and other local partners to make and distribute the shots.

AstraZeneca has not yet filed for Japanese approval of its formula, even though its domestic trial started before Pfizer's. AstraZeneca did not immediately respond when contacted by Reuters for comment.

Japan faces major logistical hurdles that some experts say will make it difficult for it to vaccinate a large portion of its population ahead of the planned start of the Summer Olympics in Tokyo from July.