The Japanese Self-Defense Forces operation to administer coronavirus booster shots in Tokyo is to provide more than 5,000 a day, starting Thursday next week.

Backed by SDF personnel, a large-scale inoculation of booster shots for people began at a site in Tokyo's Otemachi district on Monday.

The Defense Ministry says reservations for the first two weeks were filled up within 15 minutes after acceptance of reservations started. As a result, Prime Minister Kishida Fumio announced that the government would expand the setup of SDF-administered booster shot vaccination.

In response, Defense Ministry officials decided on Wednesday that they will increase the inoculation quota given at the Otemachi site by using another floor.

The number of daily doses was originally scheduled to be 2,160, but the ministry now says this will be increased to 4,080 for two days from next Tuesday, and 5,040 from February 10.

Reservations for those additional doses will start online and by telephone from 6 p.m. Friday.

A similar SDF-administered booster vaccination is to start at a site in the Yagi Building in Osaka's Chuo Ward next Monday. Acceptance of reservations is to start at 6 p.m. Friday.

State Minister of Defense Oniki Makoto told reporters that officials will do their utmost to support members of the public who feel uneasy about surging infections.