The first batch of COVID-19 vaccines produced by Pfizer Inc. arrived at Narita Airport near Tokyo on Friday.
The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry was to decide the same day whether or not to approve the vaccine at its subcommittee of the Pharmaceutical Affairs and Food Sanitation Council.
If approved, the ministry will give special approval and start vaccinating medical personnel as early as next week.
International clinical trials conducted on about 40,000 people showed that the vaccine was effective in reducing the number of novel coronavirus infections by 95%. The subcommittee is expected to decide whether to give it the green light based on the clinical results as well as data from a domestic clinical trial involving 160 Japanese people.
In principle, Pfizer's vaccine is administered twice by an injection into the muscle of the upper arm.
Following approval, the ministry will conduct preliminary vaccinations on 10,000 to 20,000 doctors and nurses at the National Hospital Organization and other institutions, checking their health after they receive the shot. Vaccinations for elderly people aged 65 and over are expected to start on or after April 1.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
