Govt. Moving To Approve Pfizer Vaccine
NHK has learned that Japan's health ministry is planning to discuss with a panel of experts next week whether to approve a coronavirus vaccine developed by US pharmaceutical firm Pfizer.
Officials said arrangements to convene the meeting on Friday of next week are in their final stage.
Pfizer has signed a contract with the Japanese government to supply doses for 72 million people this year. Last week, the firm submitted to the ministry data on clinical trials of the vaccine in Japan.
The ministry is examining the efficacy and safety of the vaccine, based on the submitted data and the results of overseas clinical trials.
Officials said the vaccine, if approved, will be administered only to people aged 16 or older for the time being.
They also plan to bar anyone from receiving the Pfizer vaccine if they have a history of severe allergic reactions to any of the ingredients of the vaccine.
If the expert panel gives the green light, the ministry is expected to issue formal approval within days.
The government hopes to start inoculating medical workers as early as late this month.