The Japanese government has passed a bill providing free coronavirus vaccine to its citizens, as the country deals with a surge of the coronavirus cases.
The bill also makes local governments responsible for administering the immunizations, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare based on a report on Japan Times.
Citizens will also be obliged to make efforts to get vaccinated against the coronavirus. However, the provision will not go into effect unless the effectiveness and safety of vaccines are fully confirmed.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga previously suspend reopening economic activities due to a recent spike of coronavirus cases.
The bill, however, does not indicate if foreign residents will be part of the vaccination program.
As of April 1, 2020, the number of Filipinos in Japan is estimated at 325,000.
