Japan workplaces kick off omicron vaccine drive

Companies began administering vaccines that target the COVID-19 omicron variant to workers on Monday. Among such companies, airlines ANA Holdings and Japan Airlines (JAL) started vaccinating pilots and cabin attendants at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. Trading house Itochu also started its workplace vaccinations. Other companies will follow suit as soon as they are prepared. The omicron-specific vaccines can be administered to people who have received at least two shots. Last month, Japan started administering them, mainly to older people. As of Wednesday, the health ministry had received applications to give inoculations under the workplace vaccination program at 731 venues. On Monday, 16 people at ANA and about 50 people at JAL received the shot. The daily vaccination capacity will be raised to 300 at ANA and to 200 at JAL. “The inoculation gave me a sense of relief. Health control is the most important thing of all for public transportation,” said Kahori Kato, a cabin attendant for ANA’s All Nippon Airways.<br/>