TOKYO, May 11 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday said that clinical trials of a vaccine for the coronavirus (COVID-19) could begin in Japan in as early as July.
Speaking at a lower house budget committee session, Abe said that Japan would join a number of other countries in the crucial process of trying to develop a vaccine against the pneumonia-causing virus.
He acknowledged in parliament that some countries had already started vaccine tests on human subjects.
He said that developing vaccines was of paramount importance.
Abe also said Monday that a decision would be made on May 14 as to whether the partial lifting of the state of emergency over the coronavirus pandemic in Japan would happen before the May 31 deadline.
Along with Japan's National Institute of Infectious Diseases, the Japanese leader said that a number of other institutions have been working towards developing a vaccine, with these including both Tokyo and Osaka universities.
While Japan has seen the nationwide pace of new COVID-19 infections slowing of late, Abe encouraged more vaccination programs being launched as soon as possible and the pooling of global resources and know-how.
According to the latest figures from Japan's health ministry and local authorities, 42 new infections were confirmed in Japan as of Monday evening, bringing the nationwide total to 15,898.
The Tokyo metropolitan government said 15 new cases were confirmed in the capital on Monday, marking the first time since March 30 that there have been less than 20 cases, with the number of new infections in the capital remaining below 100 for the ninth straight day.
The total number of coronavirus cases in Tokyo, the epicenter of the virus in Japan, stands at 4,883. Cases in Osaka, also hardly hit by the virus, stands at 1,744.
Abe also said Monday the government is still planing to approve by the end of this month the anti-flu drug Avigan developed by a Fujifilm Holdings Corp. subsidiary to be used to treat patients infected with the virus.
Japan plans to triple its stockpile of Avigan, to treat 2 million people, while also committing to making the drug available for free to more than 40 other countries for clinical trials, with around 80 countries having shown interest in the drug, said Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.
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