https://www.asiapacific.ca/publication/japans-vaccine-hesitancy-implications-covid-olympics
Quote:
Research has shown that vaccination will play a decisive role in the successful control of the COVID-19 pandemic. Japan, however, is clearly lagging behind other high-income countries in its vaccine rollout; indeed, it is experiencing a unique and complex situation with respect to vaccine hesitancy.
Contrary to recent Western "anti-vax" narratives that largely stem from misinformation, Japan's reluctance towards immunization is fuelled by a lengthy history with vaccine safety incidents. This history propelled the government to adopt a risk-averse strategy mainly to avoid liability from vaccine side effects, resulting in significant damages to the country's domestic vaccine manufacturing capacity as well as decreased public trust in vaccines. This has put Japan at a disadvantage in its battle against COVID-19, especially as Japan battles through a fourth wave of infections and as the government appears determined to proceed with hosting the Tokyo Olympics this summer.