モデルナワクチンを特例承認　２回目の半量、公費負担に―厚労省

　厚生労働省は１６日、新型コロナウイルスの米モデルナ製ワクチンについて、１８歳以上を対象に、３回目の追加接種に使用することを正式に薬事承認した。投与量は２回目までの半分。緊急時に審査を簡略化できる「特例承認」に基づく。
　同省の専門部会が１５日、承認を了承していた。３回目として使用されるのは米ファイザー製に続いて２種類目。別の専門部会は１６日、モデルナ製を予防接種法上の「臨時接種」に位置付け、公費負担で無料とすることを決めた。（2021/12/16-19:57）

Japan's health ministry formally approved on Thursday the use of U.S. biotechnology startup Moderna Inc.'s novel coronavirus vaccine for third shots in Japan.
   Booster shots of the Moderna vaccine will be administered to people aged 18 or older, based on the ministry's fast-track approval for emergency use. The amount of vaccine injected will be half the dose of the first two rounds.
   The approval came the day after a subcommittee of a ministry advisory council endorsed the ministry's plan to approve the Moderna vaccine for use in third shots.
   The Moderna vaccine became the second vaccine after the one made by U.S. drug giant Pfizer Inc. that can be used for third shots in Japan.
   A different subcommittee of the ministry decided Thursday to offer booster shots of the Moderna vaccine for free by covering inoculation costs with public funding.