The Japanese Ministry of Health has approved the administration of Moderna's anti-coronavirus vaccine for ages 12 to 17, paving the way for it to become the second vaccine available to teenagers in the country after Pfizer's vaccine.
Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare will later decide to provide the Moderna vaccine free of charge to the age group as part of the nationwide government vaccination program, Kyodo News reported Monday.
More than 3,700 people between the ages of 12 and 17 participated in clinical trials in the United States, and they did not show any signs of the virus within 14 days of receiving a second dose of the vaccine.
The US company Moderna also submitted files to drug authorities in the United States, Canada and the European Union for the use of the vaccine in adolescents.
Japan is offering the Moderna vaccine — after emergency approval in May for people 18 and older — at the SDF-run vaccination centers in Tokyo and Osaka, as well as large sites set up by governments, local businesses and universities.
The minister in charge of vaccination issues, Taro Kono, has warned that supply is struggling to keep up with demand, making it unclear when teens will be able to receive their shots.
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