Majority of Japanese unhappy with progress of booster shots - survey
21/02/2022 03:33
TOKYO, Feb 21 (Reuters) - A vast majority of Japanese think
the rollout of booster shots against COVID-19 is too slow and
give mixed reviews to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's handling of
the coronavirus pandemic, including last week's decision to ease
border rules, polls show.
Anger over the Japanese government's handling of the
pandemic helped sink the administration of Kishida predecessor
Yoshihide Suga, and Kishida faces a crucial election for the
upper house of parliament in July.
About 73% of respondents to a Kyodo news agency opinion poll
over the weekend felt Japan's rollout of booster shots has been
far two slow, though 54.1% approved of how it had tackled the
coronavirus overall.
As of Friday, only some 12% of the population had received
booster shots even though nearly 30% of the country is 65 or
older and at greater risk without the protection of the booster,
even with Kishida repeatedly promising to accelerate the
programme. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2UR0C8 urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2UR0C8
Kishida told a news conference last week that he has yet to
receive the booster, but should get one early in March.
Nearly half of respondents to the two-day telephone survey
said it was "too early" to loosen border controls, which have
among been the strictest among wealthy nations but were slammed
by businesses and educators, a move set to take place in stages
from March 1. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2US08
About 45.7% said the decision, which will open borders to
foreigners except for tourists, came too early, Kyodo said,
while 34.9% said it was "appropriate" and 16.3% saw it as too
late.
Overall, Kishida's support rose slightly to 56.6% although
disapproval of his government edged up 2.2 points to 27.4%.
(Reporting by Elaine Lies. Editing by Gerry Doyle)
((elaine.lies@thomsonreuters.com; +81-3-4563-2748; Reuters
Messaging: elaine.lies@thomsonreuters.com))