An advisory panel to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry will decide on Thursday whether to recommend approval of the production and sale of the British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine.
If the panel gives the green light for the AstraZeneca vaccine, the government plans to give special authorization on Friday.
At the meeting, the panel plans to also discuss the vaccine produced by American biotechnology company Moderna.
AstraZeneca applied for authorization to the ministry in early February. International clinical trials showed that the vaccine is 70% effective in preventing the onset of the disease, and the ministry will make its final decision after adding in the results of domestic clinical trials.
The vaccine uses a harmless cold virus to carry part of the genetic material of the novel coronavirus into the body to build up immunity. It can be stored in a refrigerator at 2-8 C, unlike the special freezer needed for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, making it easier to handle.
However, in Europe there have been rare reports of blood clots developing after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine. Since most cases occurred in women under the age of 60, there is a growing trend to limit its use to the elderly. Some countries halted its use entirely.
In December last year, the government signed a contract with the company to supply 120 million doses, enough to immunize 60 million people.
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