The government intends to cover the losses that drugmakers may suffer due to health problems resulting from vaccines for the novel coronavirus, it has been learned.
A system is being considered to cover damages that vaccine manufacturers must pay as a result of civil lawsuits and other situations, a government source said. The government aims to submit related bills to the next Diet session.
The issue was to be discussed at a subcommittee meeting on the coronavirus on Friday.
The government signed a basic agreement with Pfizer Inc. of the United States and AstraZeneca PLC of Britain to receive vaccines, and has been negotiating with other companies as well. With these companies also concluding similar contracts and negotiating with other nations, global competition to receive vaccines has been intensifying.
Even if newly developed vaccines are confirmed to be safe in clinical trials, they can cause unexpected side effects when given to a large number of people.
Should side effects occur due to the use of vaccines, drug manufacturers will likely face significant responsibility.
The government intends to create the compensation scheme to make it easier for drugmakers to supply vaccines to Japan, thereby ensuring a stable supply, the source said.
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