Routine COVID-19 vaccinations eligible for public funding began on the 1st. Those eligible are people aged 65 and over and those aged 60 to 64 with serious underlying conditions; they are to receive 1 dose by next March.
Routine COVID-19 vaccinations have begun, with out-of-pocket costs set after partial subsidies from local governments. Those eligible are people aged 65 and over and those aged 60 to 64 with serious underlying conditions, who are to receive 1 dose during the current fiscal year.
Five vaccines are available, and they are expected to help prevent severe disease caused by the viral lineages driving the outbreak.
In Japan, 21,497 people died of COVID-19 in 2025, with those aged 65 and over accounting for 97% of the total. The vaccination system for the next fiscal year is expected to operate with public funding.