高齢者らの早期接種呼び掛け　インフルワクチン―新型コロナ考慮・厚労省部会

　厚生労働省の厚生科学審議会の部会は２６日、今冬のインフルエンザワクチンについて、高齢者や医療従事者、妊婦らに対し、希望する場合は早めに接種するよう呼び掛ける方針を大筋で了承した。
　新型コロナウイルスの流行が続き、感染症への関心が高まる中、インフルエンザワクチンの接種希望者も増加が見込まれる。ワクチン供給量は例年より多いが、希望者が殺到する恐れがあり、重症化リスクのある高齢者らに行き渡らせる狙いがある。
　厚労省は同日の部会で、予防接種法の定期接種の対象である６５歳以上の高齢者らに加え、医療従事者▽基礎疾患のある人▽妊婦▽乳幼児や小学２年生までの小児―の希望者に、早めの接種を呼び掛ける方針を示した。（2020/08/26-15:02）

A working group of the Japanese health ministry broadly agreed on Wednesday to call on elderly people, medical personnel, pregnant women and others to get vaccinated for this winter's influenza ahead of others.
   Amid increasing concerns over infectious diseases triggered by the new coronavirus outbreak, the number of people seeking to get vaccinated against influenza is expected to increase this year.
   The plan devised by the working group of the ministry's Health Sciences Council is aimed at making sure that elderly people and others at high risk of developing severe flu symptoms will be able to get vaccinated, as there is concern over an influenza vaccine shortage even though the country has secured a much bigger supply of vaccines than usual.
   Subject to the call are elderly people aged 65 or older, who are covered by routine immunizations under the preventive vaccination law, medical personnel, people with underlying conditions, pregnant women, and children in the second grade of elementary school or younger.
   Vaccinations are slated to start in October, ahead of the influenza season.