Majority of Japanese unhappy with progress of booster shots - survey (updated)
21/02/2022 07:46
(Adds details)
TOKYO, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Most Japanese think the rollout of
booster shots against COVID-19 is too slow and many give mixed
reviews to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's handling of the
pandemic, including last week's decision to ease border rules, a
poll showed.
Anger over the Japanese government's handling of the
coronavirus pandemic helped sink the administration of Kishida's
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 too slow, though 54.1% approved of how the government had
tackled the coronavirus overall.
Only 14.4% of the population has received booster shots even
though nearly 30% of the country is 65 or older and at greater
risk without the protection of the booster.
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Kishida, who has repeatedly promised to accelerate the
booster programme, told a news conference last week he has yet
to receive his booster, but should get one early in March.
The booster programme has picked up steam in recent days,
with more than 700,000 shots a day - nearing Kishida's goal of 1
million by the end of February. Still, February became the
deadliest month of the pandemic for Japan on Saturday, with
3,033 deaths so far this month.
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, additional reporting by Rocky Swift,
Editing by Gerry Doyle and Lincoln Feast.)
((elaine.lies@thomsonreuters.com; +81-3-4563-2748; Reuters
Messaging: elaine.lies@thomsonreuters.com))