ワクチン２種、５月承認も　田村厚労相

　田村憲久厚生労働相は２１日のＮＨＫ番組で、米製薬大手ファイザーに続き、薬事承認が申請された２種類の新型コロナウイルスワクチンについて「予断を持って言えないが、本当にうまくいけば５月中に承認ということもあるかもしれない」との見通しを示した。
　英製薬大手アストラゼネカが２月に自社のワクチンを、武田薬品工業は今月に米バイオ医薬品企業モデルナが開発したワクチンを申請しており、いずれも審査が簡略化できる特例承認を求めている。田村氏は「安全性と有効性をしっかり見ていきたい」と強調した。
　一方、ファイザーのワクチンについて田村氏は「６月中には高齢者が２回打てる分を何とか確保できるのではないかと期待している」と述べた。（2021/03/21-13:16）

Japanese health minister Norihisa Tamura on Sunday suggested the possibility of his ministry approving the use of two more vaccines against the novel coronavirus in May.
   British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca PLC filed for health ministry approval for its vaccine in February, while Japan's Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. sought approval for a vaccine developed by U.S. biotech startup Moderna Inc. earlier this month.
   Their applications were filed under an emergency process with simplified screening.
   "The two vaccines may possibly be approved in May if things go very smoothly," Tamura said in a television program. "We'll closely check their safety and effectiveness."
   Japan has so far approved a vaccine developed by major U.S. drugmaker Pfizer Inc. The Japanese government started its coronavirus inoculation program in February using the Pfizer vaccine, initially targeting medical workers.