TOKYO: Japanese minors under the age of 12 may start receiving Covid-19 shots in the middle of spring once approved by the health ministry, reported Sputnik.
“The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare is expected to consider the issue. The vaccination, if approved, will start after March,” said the minister in charge of vaccination rollout Noriko Horiuchi on Tuesday as cited by Kyodo news agency.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida earlier said that the government plans to start vaccination of minors under the age of 12 as soon as the healthcare ministry grants approval. The measure will help to slow down the spread of Omicron strain, according to Kishida.
Last November, Pfizer and BioNTech applied to the Japanese ministry for approval to use their Covid-19 vaccines for minors from 5 to 11 years old. — Bernama