Japan to expand COVID-19 vaccination programme to kids under 12 from February

Japan to expand COVID-19 vaccination programme to kids under 12 from February

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare notified municipalities across the country to begin preparation for the vaccination programme for kids aged between 5 to 11.

IANSUpdated: Wednesday, November 17, 2021, 02:40 PM IST
article-image
Representative Image | Photo: AFP

Tokyo: Japan's Covid-19 vaccination programme is likely to be expanded to children under 12 years old in February next year, the country's health ministry said on Wednesday.

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare notified municipalities across the country to begin preparation for the vaccination programme for kids aged between 5 to 11.

Medical institutions responsible for the programme should fully explain the effectiveness and safety of vaccines to children and their parents or guardians, and obtain their consent, according to the ministry, Xinhua news agency reported.

Those institutions also need to provide proper initial treatment when people being inoculated develop side effects, the ministry said.

The vaccination programme would start if it receives permission from the government, as a ministry panel is discussing whether this age group should be inoculated.

Last week, US pharmaceutical company Pfizer submitted an application for inoculating kids aged 5 to 11 years with the vaccine jointly developed with its German partner BioNTech.

Currently, the government has approved the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and US drug maker Moderna vaccine for people aged 12 or older, while the vaccine developed by British firm AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford is limited to be used for people aged 18 or older.

RECENT STORIES

'Consequence Of Pak's Oppressive Approach': India Reacts To Unrest In Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir -...

'Consequence Of Pak's Oppressive Approach': India Reacts To Unrest In Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir -...

Powerful 6.9 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Cebu Island In Philippines, Death Toll Rises To 72

Powerful 6.9 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Cebu Island In Philippines, Death Toll Rises To 72

VIDEO Shows Pakistan Police Brutally Assaulting Journalists During Raid At Islamabad Press Club Amid...

VIDEO Shows Pakistan Police Brutally Assaulting Journalists During Raid At Islamabad Press Club Amid...

US: Massive Fire Breaks Out Chevron oil Refinery In Los Angeles; Terrifying Video Surfaces

US: Massive Fire Breaks Out Chevron oil Refinery In Los Angeles; Terrifying Video Surfaces

India Destroyed 10 Pakistan's Aircraft, Including F-16 & J-17 Fighter Jets, During Operation...

India Destroyed 10 Pakistan's Aircraft, Including F-16 & J-17 Fighter Jets, During Operation...