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A32 sports
Diaranson 2 Juni 2021

Japan's vaccine push ahead of Olympics looks to be too late

that even strict rules won't More than three months into primary care doctors, hospi-
prevent all mingling, espe- Japan's vaccination campaign, tals and residents, as well as
cially among non-athletes. only 2.7% of the population flexibility, have contributed
has been fully vaccinated. to smooth progress, Sumida
Prominent medical journals The country started its roll- district spokesperson Yosuke
have questioned the wisdom out with health care work- Yatabe said.
of pushing ahead with the ers in mid-February, months "It's like a factory line," Yatabe
Tokyo Games and the Asahi behind many other countries said.
Shimbun — the country's because Japan required ad-
second-largest newspaper — ditional clinical testing here, Ryuichiro Suzuki, a 21-year-
has called for them to be can- a step many experts say was old university student in To-
celed, reflecting widespread medically meaningless. kyo, said he is frustrated with
opposition to holding the Japan's lagging vaccination
Olympics now among the Inoculations for the elderly, campaign.
Japanese population. who are more likely to suffer "I saw that some of my friends
serious problems when in- overseas have been vaccinat-
But the government has fected, started in mid-April, ed, but my turn won't come
(AP) — It may be too lit- — about 70% of the popula- said it's determined to push but were slowed by initial until later this summer," he
tle, too late. tion would not be inoculated. ahead, with the viability of supply shortages, cumber- said. "The risk-averse gov-
And many have dismissed Suga's leadership and geopo- some reservation procedures ernment took extra caution
That's the realization sinking the target as overly optimistic litical competition with rival and a lack of medical workers even when our primary goal
in as Japan scrambles to catch anyway. Beijing, the next Olympics to give shots. was to get back to normal as
up on a frustratingly slow To meet it, Japan is vowing host, as well as the health of soon as possible."
vaccination drive less than to soon start administering millions, on the line. But there are signs of im- Kono, the vaccine minister,
two months before the Sum- 1 million doses daily. It cur- "By using a new weapon provement. The vaccine sup- said more large-scale in-
mer Olympics, delayed by a rently is only giving 500,000 called vaccines and taking ply has increased and despite oculation centers are getting
year because of the coronavi- per day, already a big im- firm preventive measures, it earlier expectations of a hesi- underway, including at hun-
rus pandemic, are scheduled provement after Prime Min- is fully possible" to hold the tant response to vaccines in dreds of college campuses
to start. ister Yoshihide Suga called on Olympics safely, Suga told a general, senior citizens fear- and offices to start vaccinat-
military doctors and nurses parliamentary session Tues- ful of the virus are rushing to ing younger people from
The Olympics risk becom- and started making legal ex- day. inoculation sites. June 21.
ing an incubator for "a Tokyo ceptions to recruit other vac-
variant," as 15,000 foreign cinators in order to boost the Officials are now desper- Since May 24, Japan has de- Beyond the concerns about
athletes and tens of thou- drive. ately trying to think of ways ployed 280 military doctors the Olympics and despite the
sands officials, sponsors and to increase the shots at a and nurses in Tokyo and the fact that Japan has seen fewer
journalists from about 200 "Vaccinations under the cur- time when medical workers badly hit city of Osaka. More cases and deaths compared to
countries descend on — and rent pace are not going to are already under pressure than 33,000 vaccination sites the United States and other
potentially mix with — a help prevent infections dur- treating COVID-19 patients. now operate across Japan, advanced nations, the coun-
largely unvaccinated Japanese ing the Olympics," Tokyo Many say they have no extra and more are coming, said try's slow pace of vaccina-
population, said Dr. Naoto Medical Association Chair- resources to help with the Taro Kono, the minister in tions and its prolonged, often
Ueyama, a physician, head of man Haruo Ozaki said. "The Olympics, if, for instance, charge of vaccinations. toothless state of emergency
the Japan Doctors Union. Olympics can trigger a global the boiling Japanese summer could also delay its economic
spread of different variants of causes widespread cases of In Sumida, a district in down- recovery for months, said
With infections in Tokyo and the virus." heat stroke. Some local lead- town Tokyo where boxing Masaya Sasaki, senior econo-
other heavily populated areas ers in and around Tokyo have events will be held, vaccina- mist at the Nomura Research
currently at high levels and The International Olympic rejected the Olympics orga- tions for its 61,000 elderly Institute.
hospitals already under strain Committee says more than nizers' requests to set aside residents began on May 10,
treating serious cases despite 80% of athletes and staff stay- beds for athletes. and within two weeks, 31% And despite repeated expres-
a state of emergency, experts ing in the Olympic Village on of them had gotten their first sions of official government
have warned there is little Tokyo Bay will be vaccinated Dr. Shigeru Omi, former shots, compared to the na- confidence in the Games be-
slack in the system. — and they are expected to World Health Organization tional average of 3.7%. Sum- ing safe, there are fears here
remain largely in a bubble at regional director and a head ida is now looking to start of what might happen if vac-
Even if the country succeeds the village and venues. But of a government taskforce, inoculating younger people cinations don't pick up.
in meeting its goal of fully vaccination rates are not clear said it is crucial to start inoc- later this month, well ahead "The Olympics, billed as a
vaccinating all 36 million el- for other participants coming ulating younger people, who of schedule. recovery Games, can trigger
derly by the end of July — al- from abroad, including hard- are seen as likely to spread the a new disaster," said Ueyama,
ready a week into the Games hit regions, and experts warn virus, as soon as possible. Close coordination among of the Japan Doctors Union.

Braves star Ozuna granted $20,000 bond on assault charge

(AP) — Braves star Mar- During his initial appearance where the front door was joint domestic violence poli- deal. He batted .338, led the
cell Ozuna was released in Fulton County Magistrate open and heard screaming cy in place between MLB and National League with 18
from jail on $20,000 bond Court, Ozuna was ordered to from inside. Officers said the players' union. homers and 56 RBIs, and fin-
Monday after being avoid contact with his wife. they saw Ozuna grab his wife He was already on the in- ished sixth in NL MVP bal-
charged with aggravated He had no comment as he by the neck and throw her jured list and expected to be loting.
assault by strangulation walked out of jail. against a wall, in addition to out for more than a month
and battery against his striking her with a cast on his after dislocating two fingers Ozuna also became a fan fa-
wife. In court, attorneys said the injured left hand. on his left hand while sliding vorite with his colorful cel-
couple was in the process of during a game at Boston last ebrations, including mimed
Ozuna had been jailed since divorce. Genesis Ozuna was Police said the victim had week. He was seen wearing a selfies after home runs and a
Saturday after police offi- arrested on a domestic vio- visible injuries but was not bright yellow cast in video of pot-stirring hand gesture to
cers in the Atlanta suburb of lence charge in Miami a year taken to the hospital. his court appearance. highlight big hits.
Sandy Springs said they wit- ago.
nessed him attacking his wife, Ozuna could face a long sus- Ozuna re-signed with Atlanta He was off to a slow start this
Genesis, while responding to A statement from the Sandy pension by Major League after a stellar first season with season, hitting just .213 with
a 911 call. Springs Police Department Baseball, which plans to re- the Braves in 2020, agreeing seven homers and 26 RBIs at
said officers entered a home view the matter under the to a $65 million, four-year the time of his injury.