Japan’s quickening vaccine rollout is good news for the economy

With vaccines being delivered more quickly than expected, an economic recovery seen accelerating mid-autumn could gather more momentum, say economists. - Reuters

TOKYO (Bloomberg): Japan’s vaccine drive was slow to get going, but it’s on track now to beat the current US inoculation rate within weeks -- good news for an economy that’s endured one virus emergency after another.

If the current pace is sustained, Japan will have 51% of its people fully vaccinated by Sept 12. As soon as Sunday, the country should hit the 40% target that Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga set for month’s end, meeting a key milestone ahead of schedule amid widespread criticism Japan hasn’t done enough to rein in Covid-19 cases.