ワクチン３回目前倒し明言　「可能なところは」―木原副長官

　木原誠二官房副長官は５日のフジテレビの番組で、２回目の接種から８カ月間空けるのを原則としている新型コロナウイルスワクチンの３回目の接種について、「自治体の能力も踏まえながら、可能なところは前倒ししていく」と明言した。
　政府は現在、２、３回目の接種間隔を６カ月に短縮できるケースを、医療機関や高齢者施設でクラスター（感染者集団）が発生した場合に限定している。変異株「オミクロン株」の感染拡大も踏まえ、この対象を可能な範囲で拡大するとみられる。（2021/12/05-11:25）

The Japanese government will shorten the required interval between second and third shots of novel coronavirus vaccines where possible, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiji Kihara said Sunday.
   "We will bring forward (third shots) where possible while considering the capacity of local governments," Kihara said on a television program.
   In Japan, third COVID-19 vaccine shots need to wait at least eight months after second shots in principle. The interval can be shortened to six months only if an infection cluster hits medical institutions or elderly care facilities.
   The government is believed to allow more exceptions to the eight-month principle due to the spread of the omicron variant of the coronavirus.
   On concerns that bringing forward third shots may cause a shortage of vaccine supplies, Kihara said the government will add the vaccine made by U.S. biotechnology startup Moderna Inc. to the booster shot program if the vaccine is approved for such use and can be used for mix-and-match inoculations together with the vaccine of U.S. drug giant Pfizer Inc.