Japan starts vaccinations as new coronavirus cases, deaths drop worldwide

Japan launched its coronavirus vaccination programme on Feb. 17, five months ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, as the World Health Organization reported a fall in new cases around the world.

The same day, Australia and New Zealand ended snap lockdowns after they successfully brought small outbreaks under control in just days - suggesting that despite their unpopularity, movement restrictions remain vital tools against the pandemic.

Japan kicked off its inoculation drive at a Tokyo hospital, with a plan to initially give Pfizer-BioNTech shots to 40,000 healthcare workers.

"Hopefully vaccinations... can change the situation here," nurse Rino Yoshida told national broadcaster NHK after she got one of the first shots.

Japan is battling a much more limited outbreak compared with hard-hit countries such as the United States and Britain, but its response is being closely watched around the world as doubts swirl over the postponed Tokyo Olympics, due to start July 23.

Organizers have outlined measures they say will keep the Games safe even without requiring participants to be vaccinated or quarantined on arrival.

But there are fears among the Japanese public and experts that the precautions may not be enough for a global event, even as the WHO on Tuesday reported a slowing of the pandemic.

New infections worldwide fell by 16 percent last week, while the number of new deaths also dropped 10 percent week-on-week, based on figures up to Sunday.

"The fire is not out, but we have reduced its size," WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Feb. 15.

With infections topping 109 million and more than 2.4 million deaths, the pandemic has devastated the global economy, and populations are growing...