Ministry Panel Expected To Approve Pfizer Vaccine
Sources say an expert panel of Japan's health ministry is expected to approve on Friday a coronavirus vaccine jointly developed by US firm Pfizer and German partner BioNTech.
The sources say the panel's decision will be partly based on a clinical trial held in Japan with 160 Japanese subjects which showed an increase in neutralizing antibodies. The ministry is examining the efficacy and safety of the vaccine.
If the panel gives the green light, the ministry will likely officially approve the vaccine in the near future as the country's first against the coronavirus.
The ministry is considering limiting the use of the vaccine to people aged 16 or older for the time being.
It is also moving to ban the use of the vaccine for people with a history of severe allergic reactions to vaccine ingredients.
Pfizer filed for the ministry's approval for the vaccine in December. The company is due to supply Japan with enough doses for 72 million people by the end of the year under a contract with the Japanese government.