Pfizer, a major US pharmaceutical company that is the only company in Japan to apply for approval of a new coronavirus vaccine, submitted data on clinical trials conducted in Japan to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare on the 29th.
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has a policy of deciding whether or not to approve next month based on the data of overseas clinical trials.
Pfizer, the only company in Japan to apply for approval of a new coronavirus vaccine, has signed a contract with the Japanese government to supply vaccines for 72 million people by the end of the year.
According to the government, Pfizer initially planned to compile data on clinical trials conducted on 160 Japanese people over the age of 20 in February, but at the request of the Japanese government, it plans to move it forward this month. Was showing.
According to the people concerned, Pfizer submitted the data of the domestic clinical trial to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare on the 29th.
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare is already proceeding with the examination based on the data of overseas clinical trials, and will hold an expert meeting next month to decide whether or not to approve it.
If approved, the government wants to start vaccination of healthcare workers in sequence as much as possible from the end of next month.
Government "ships from 30 days when the freezer is ready"
The government has posted new information on vaccination against the new coronavirus on Twitter at the Prime Minister's Office.
According to the report, regarding the freezer that stores Pfizer's vaccine, "The freezer at minus 75 degrees Celsius is ready for prior inoculation to medical staff. It will be shipped to 100 venues nationwide in order. From tomorrow (30th) It is now possible to implement it. "
The government wants to start vaccinations for health care workers in late February as much as possible.