新ワクチン、１０月にも接種開始　オミクロン株に対応―厚労省・新型コロナ

　厚生労働省の専門部会は８日、新型コロナウイルスのオミクロン株に対応した改良型ワクチンの接種を、１０月中旬以降に開始する方針を決めた。対象は２回目までの接種を終えた全世代を想定しており、費用は公費で負担する。
　ワクチンはオミクロン株の初期に流行した派生型「ＢＡ．１」と従来株の成分を組み合わせたもので、米ファイザー社と米モデルナ社が開発を進めている。感染力が強い同株の派生型「ＢＡ．５」にも一定の効果が期待されており、薬事承認されれば９月中に輸入が開始される見通し。（2022/08/08-19:20）

A Japanese health ministry expert team Monday decided to start administering improved COVID-19 vaccines effective against omicron variants as early as mid-October.
   All generations who have received at least two coronavirus vaccine shots will be eligible for the new vaccines under development by U.S. drugmakers Pfizer Inc. and Moderna Inc. The vaccination costs will be entirely financed with public money.
   The improved vaccines are based on coronavirus strains including the BA.1 omicron. The vaccines are considered effective to some extent against the prevailing BA.5 omicron.
   If the vaccines win regulatory approval, Japan will start importing them as early as September.
   Japan's current seventh wave of COVID-19 is being driven by the spread of the BA.5 omicron.