重い精神疾患も優先接種　コロナワクチン、対象２１０万人―厚労省

　厚生労働省は１８日、新型コロナウイルスのワクチンを優先接種する対象に、重い精神疾患や知的障害がある人を加える方針を明らかにした。海外の研究では、新型コロナ感染による死亡リスクが高いとの結果が出ているため。同日の厚生科学審議会の専門部会に示し、了承された。
　新たに対象になるのは、精神疾患による入院患者のほか、精神障害者保健福祉手帳や療育手帳を持つ人など。対象は推計で計約２１０万人。（2021/03/18-16:36）

The Japanese government plans to include people with severe mental illnesses or intellectual disabilities in a priority list for COVID-19 vaccinations, health ministry officials said Thursday.
   This is because overseas research show that such people carry a higher risk of death from COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by novel coronavirus infection. The plan was approved at Thursday's Health Sciences Council expert committee meeting.
   Some 2.1 million people, including in-patients and people who have mental disability or rehabilitation certificates, are expected to join the list.
   Japan's coronavirus vaccination program began on Feb. 17, with medical workers becoming the first group to be vaccinated.
   Vaccinations are slated to start on April 12 for people aged 65 or older and later for people with underlying conditions, such as respiratory and heart diseases.