高齢者のワクチン接種開始　５月本格化、６月完了目指す―新型コロナ

　新型コロナウイルスワクチンの高齢者向け優先接種が１２日、東京都八王子市など一部地域で始まった。対象は今年度中に６５歳になる人ら約３６００万人で、政府は６月末までの完了を目指す。開始時点で自治体に配布されたワクチン数はごく一部に限られ、本格化するのは５月上旬ごろになる見通し。
　重症化リスクの高い高齢者への接種により、医療提供体制逼迫（ひっぱく）の改善につながることが期待される。（2021/04/12-10:16）

Japan started to inoculate elderly people against the new coronavirus on Monday, aiming to complete the vaccinations of senior citizens, the second priority group after medical workers, by the end of June.
   The program covers some 36 million people aged 65 or over, including those who will turn 65 during the current fiscal year through March 2022, using a vaccine developed by major U.S. drugmaker Pfizer Inc.
   As only some municipalities have received supplies of the vaccine, inoculations of elderly citizens kicked off in limited areas. The elderly vaccination program is expected to move into full swing in early May.
   Inoculations of elderly people, with the high risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms, are expected to help improve the situation at medical institutions under strain amid the coronavirus crisis.
   On April 5, the Japanese government started distributing the vaccine to the country's 47 prefectures, planning to deliver at least one box, which contains 975 doses, to each municipality by May 2 and complete the supplies by the end of June. Each person needs to get the vaccine twice, at intervals of three weeks.