This photo shows syringes for vaccines. (Mainichi/Koichiro Tezuka)

       TOKYO -- The capital's Minato Ward government announced on Sept. 7 that it will set up a coronavirus vaccination site that will be open late on Friday nights for those who cannot go to other inoculation centers due to work commitments or other reasons.

       According to the ward government, this will be the first mass vaccination site open late at night in the capital.

       Tokyo Grand Hotel in the ward's Shiba district will be used as the vaccination site from 7 p.m. until midnight on Fridays between Sept. 17 and the end of November, except for Oct. 15 and 22. A total of 2,500 ward residents aged 18 and older are eligible to receive the shots, and Moderna Inc.'s vaccines, which have been used for workplace inoculations, will be used at the new site.

       According to an official in charge of vaccinations at the Minato Ward government, other mass inoculation sites are open only until 8 p.m., which has triggered complaints from some residents that they cannot receive shots. In the ward, about 70% of some 240,000 residents eligible for inoculations had received their first dose as of Sept. 7.

       The Minato Ward government will start accepting reservations at 12 a.m. on Sept. 9 online at: https://www.city.minato.tokyo.jp/wakuchintan/corona_wakuchin/wakuchin1.html

       The local government will also accept 50 to 100 appointments on the day of vaccination from 1 p.m.

       (Japanese original by Shohei Kato, Tokyo Bureau)

       Font Size S M L Print Timeline 0