Japan's health ministry has approved the use of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine for booster shots.
The vaccine developed by the US biotech firm Moderna is the second to be approved in Japan for booster doses after Pfizer's.
The ministry said on Thursday that the Moderna vaccine can be administered as the third dose for people aged 18 or older.
Ministry officials say the third dose will be half the amount used for each of the first two shots, and booster doses can be given six months after the second one.
The ministry plans to use the Moderna vaccine as a booster in workplace vaccination programs from March as well as at medical institutions and large-scale vaccination sites.
People who have received two Pfizer doses can be given a Moderna shot as a booster and vice versa.
Earlier this month, Japan started using the Pfizer vaccine as a booster shot for healthcare workers.
The health ministry has notified municipal authorities that if they have Moderna vaccines in stock, they can allocate them to medical workers for booster jabs.
Some medical institutions are expected to start giving the Moderna booster to their workers as early as Friday.
The vaccine developed by the US biotech firm Moderna is the second to be approved in Japan for booster doses after Pfizer's.
The ministry said on Thursday that the Moderna vaccine can be administered as the third dose for people aged 18 or older.
Ministry officials say the third dose will be half the amount used for each of the first two shots, and booster doses can be given six months after the second one.
The ministry plans to use the Moderna vaccine as a booster in workplace vaccination programs from March as well as at medical institutions and large-scale vaccination sites.
People who have received two Pfizer doses can be given a Moderna shot as a booster and vice versa.
Earlier this month, Japan started using the Pfizer vaccine as a booster shot for healthcare workers.
The health ministry has notified municipal authorities that if they have Moderna vaccines in stock, they can allocate them to medical workers for booster jabs.
Some medical institutions are expected to start giving the Moderna booster to their workers as early as Friday.
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Summary
Japan has approved the use of Moderna's coronavirus vaccine for booster shots, making it the second after Pfizer's. The ministry stated that the Moderna vaccine can be administered as a third dose to individuals aged 18 and older. Booster doses will be half the amount used in each of the first two