Regarding the third inoculation of the new coronavirus vaccine, Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Goto will first limit the target that can shorten the interval from the second to 6 months to those involved in medical institutions and facilities for the elderly where clusters have occurred. I made it clear that I notified the local government.
Regarding the third vaccination of the new corona virus vaccine, Prime Minister Kishida met with Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Goto and Minister for Vaccination Horiuchi at the Prime Minister's Office on the afternoon of the 26th, and the interval from the second vaccination was 8 months in principle. From the above, we exchanged opinions on what can be exceptionally shortened to 6 months.
After that, Minister Goto responded to a reporter's interview at the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, and first of all, regarding the target that can be shortened to 6 months, inpatients, users, staff, etc. when a cluster occurs in a medical institution or a facility for the elderly. As far as the limit is concerned, if multiple clusters occur within the jurisdiction of the same health center, it has been revealed that the local government has been notified that it is possible to target people involved in medical institutions and facilities for the elderly within the jurisdiction.
In addition, we have announced a policy to notify the residents of remote islands in the near future so that they can be shortened to 6 months even if they are inoculated all at once.
On top of that, Minister Goto also said that he would consider revising these policies if the infection spreads further.
"At this point, it is difficult to meet the demand for a lot of Pfizer vaccines, but if the Moderna vaccine is approved by the regulatory affairs, we will be able to secure enough vaccines for booster vaccination. I want everyone to feel at ease. "