Corona vaccine 3rd inoculation Adjusted for people 6 months after the 2nd inoculation

Regarding the third inoculation of the new coronavirus vaccine, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has previously planned to target people who have been inoculated for about eight months or more after the second inoculation, but it has been reported overseas that the effectiveness of the vaccine will decline in half a year. From the fact that it has been done, it was found that we are adjusting to target people who are 6 months old.

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare plans to start the third vaccination next month, and will deliver the Pfizer vaccine to local governments and medical institutions nationwide from the 15th.

Until now, the subjects of the third vaccination were those who had been inoculated for about 8 months or more since the second inoculation, but those who have been inoculated for 6 months or more with an interval of 8 months or more as the standard are also eligible for inoculation. According to the interview with the people concerned, it was found that the adjustment was made in the direction of the inoculation.

The reason is that it has been reported overseas that the effect of the vaccine has decreased 6 months after the second vaccination, and the policy is to present this plan at a subcommittee made up of experts on the 15th.

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has so far assumed that people who have been vaccinated more than 8 months after the second vaccination will be targeted for the third vaccination, so that medical workers can start vaccination from next month and elderly people etc. from January next year. We are asking local governments to prepare, but some elderly people are expected to be vaccinated six months after the second vaccination within the year, and some local governments are expected to advance the vaccination period.

When NHK interviewed the local government about such a policy, "I was preparing in 8 months, so if the policy is changed, it will be difficult to respond. I think that some residents want to inoculate in 6 months, but now Some people said, "It is difficult to secure a venue and staff, and we are not ready in time." Or "I am worried that the government will supply the necessary vaccine if the inoculation time is advanced."

It is expected that confusion will occur among local governments over the time to start vaccination.