News On Japan

Japan approves COVID vaccine plan for age 5 to 11

Jan 21 (NHK) - Japan's health ministry has approved a plan to expand its coronavirus vaccine rollout program to include children aged 5 to 11.

This follows an application filed by US pharmaceutical company Pfizer in November asking for permission to expand the use of its COVID-19 vaccine to the 5- to 11- age group.

The decision was made on Thursday at a ministry panel of experts who had been looking into the effectiveness and safety of the Pfizer vaccine.

Such approval would be the first by Japanese authorities for inoculating children under 12 against the coronavirus.

Currently, Japan approves the use of the Pfizer vaccine and another by US drug maker Moderna for people aged 12 or older.

The use of a vaccine developed by British firm AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford is limited in principle to people aged 40 or older.

The health ministry is urging municipal governments to prepare for the start of vaccinations for 5- to 11-year-olds as early as March.

It plans to convene a meeting of experts next Wednesday to work out the details of the expanded vaccine program.

Source: ANNnewsCH

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

Nara's Asuka and Fujiwara Palaces have been officially recommended as a candidate for UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage list, with the goal of achieving registration at the World Heritage Committee meeting scheduled for the year after next.

University of Tokyo President Teruo Fujii revealed that the university is finalizing plans to raise undergraduate tuition fees by 20%, starting with students entering next academic year.

The ongoing debate over the legalization of separate surnames for married couples in Japan is a topic that has polarized both politicians and the public for over three decades.

Two Liberian men have been arrested on suspicion of stealing 34 million yen through a trick using copper particles plated with gold.

The Yokohama District Court on Monday sentenced a former manager of Bigmotor's Kawasaki branch to a fine of 200,000 yen for damaging public property by cutting azaleas in front of the store.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Society NEWS

Five unemployed men have been arrested and charged with repeatedly stealing golf clubs from parked cars. The total losses are estimated at approximately 57 million yen.

The traditional 'Crow Sumo' ritual, which involves imitating crow calls to pray for good health, was held on September 9 at Kyoto's Kamigamo Shrine. This ritual, which takes place on the Day of Chrysanthemums, has been performed since the Heian Period

Two Liberian men have been arrested on suspicion of stealing 34 million yen through a trick using copper particles plated with gold.

A lightning strike at a live event venue in Moka City, Tochigi Prefecture, injured nine people, but none are in life-threatening condition.

An exhibition and sale of prison-made goods crafted by inmates aiming for social reintegration was held at Toyama Prison in Toyama Prefecture.

Violinist Taro Hakase (53) announced on Friday that he has been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a condition that causes facial paralysis.

A man was arrested in Higashi-Osaka for allegedly abducting three girls, one of whom has died, with around 80 empty medicine shells discovered in his home.

Prince Hisahito, the eldest son of Japan's Crown Prince and Crown Princess Akishino, turned 18 on September 6, officially becoming an adult member of the Imperial family.