The Japanese Ministry of Health has decided that people who received a second coronavirus vaccination six months ago will be eligible for booster shots.
The plan was approved by a provincial advisory board meeting on Monday.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is currently the only vaccine approved for booster shots in Japan.
Authorities said they could make an exception for people who were vaccinated six months ago, while admitting that booster shots should basically be given to people who were fully vaccinated for more than eight months.
They said it was up to the municipality to decide whether such an exception could be made, depending on factors, including how the infection was spreading in the area.
The ministry initially planned to provide boosters every eight months, taking into account the examples set up in some Western countries.
However, some foreign data suggest that the effectiveness of the vaccine will be halved in less than 6 months, so authorities have determined that it can provide more flexibility.
Participants also agreed with the ministry’s plan to encourage booster shots for the elderly and those with underlying disorders who are more likely to develop serious conditions.
They agreed that they also needed to provide booster shots to long-term care facility employees and health care workers.
It was also approved to use the Pfizer-BioNTech booster for people who were initially vaccinated twice with Moderna or AstraZeneca.
