「３回目」前倒し対象拡大も　ワクチン供給量勘案―堀内担当相

　堀内詔子ワクチン担当相は２１日の記者会見で、新型コロナウイルスワクチンの３回目接種について、医療従事者や高齢者ら約３１００万人に限るとしている前倒しの対象を広げる可能性に言及した。「感染状況やワクチン供給の度合いを見極めながら、職域接種を含むその他の方々の前倒しを検討していく」と語った。（2021/12/21-11:23）

Japan might expand the scope of people eligible to receive third novel coronavirus vaccine shots after shorter interval, Noriko Horiuchi, minister in charge of vaccination rollouts, said on Tuesday.
   Currently, about 31 million people, including medical workers and people at elderly care facilities, are allowed to get booster shorts after shorter interval.
   The government will consider reducing the minimum interval before booster shots for workplace vaccinations and others "while closely checking the infection situation and the supply of vaccines," Horiuchi told a press conference.
   The move apparently came in response to the growing number of infections with the omicron coronavirus variant in the country.
   At present, Japan sets the minimum interval before booster shots at eight months after second doses in principle.