Osaka Mayor Ichiro Matsui is seen in this Jan. 21, 2020 photo. (Mainichi/Masahiro Kawata)

       OSAKA -- Osaka Mayor Ichiro Matsui revealed July 1 that the city will possibly halt the first round of COVID-19 vaccinations for which reservations have been made in the near future, in response to a shortage of Pfizer vaccines.

       Individual vaccinations conducted by family physicians and group immunization held at facilities in each ward will be subject to suspension. The city of Osaka also plans to stop accepting new reservations, and said that it cannot indicate when it will resume vaccinations until the national government presents a plan for vaccine supplies.

       According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, it is advised that for Pfizer vaccines, the second shot should be taken three weeks after the first one. Therefore, the Osaka Municipal Government is set to suspend the first round of vaccinations to secure vaccine supplies and prioritize the second round of inoculations.

       In a July 1 press conference, Mayor Matsui said, "As there are no vaccines made in Japan, the unexpected could happen. Although it's regrettable, I'd like to ask for your understanding."

       (Japanese original by Hirokage Tabata, Osaka Science & Environment News Department)

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