モデルナワクチン、１２歳以上対象に　接種年齢引き下げ―厚労省方針

　米モデルナ製の新型コロナウイルスワクチンについて、厚生労働省が接種対象年齢を１８歳以上から１２歳以上に引き下げる方針を固めたことが１５日、関係者への取材で分かった。
　厚労省は５月にモデルナ製ワクチンを承認。同社はその後、米国で１２～１７歳の約３７００人を対象にした治験を実施し、有効性と安全性を確認したといい、同省は接種対象年齢を引き下げる方針を１９日にも開かれる専門部会に報告する。公費負担の予防接種対象にするかも今後検討する見込みだ。（2021/07/15-11:46）

Japan's health ministry plans to lower the minimum age for the COVID-19 vaccine developed by U.S. biotechnology company Moderna Inc. to 12 from 18, sources with access to the plan said Thursday.
   The ministry will submit the plan at a meeting of an experts' panel as early as Monday, according to the sources. In May, it approved the vaccine for use in Japan.
   Moderna has confirmed that the vaccine is effective and safe for those aged 12-17 through a clinical trial covering some 3,700 people conducted in the United States, according to the sources.
   The ministry is expected to later consider whether to make inoculations using the Moderna vaccine eligible for public funding, the sources said.
   In May, the ministry lowered the minimum age for U.S. drugmaker Pfizer Inc.'s COVID-19 vaccine to 12 from 16.