Japan begins giving Omicron booster shots to stem 7th COVID wave

Japan on Tuesday began its rollout of vaccines against the Omicron coronavirus variant as part of efforts to stem the ongoing seventh wave of COVID-19 infections in the country.

Those aged 60 and older and medical workers who have yet to receive their fourth shots will be given priority, with eligibility to be expanded from around mid-October to those aged 12 and above and vaccinated at least twice.

The central government plans to provide the shots, which are free of charge, to all who want them by the end of the year, ahead of the highly infectious year-end and New Year period. Local governments will be able to bring forward the scheduling at their discretion.

The boosters, which are made by U.S. pharmaceutical firms Pfizer Inc. and Moderna Inc. and tailored to the BA.1 subvariant, were approved for production and sale in Japan by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare last week.

According to a Kyodo News survey, 80 percent of the capital cities of the nation’s 47 prefectures said they would begin vaccinations by the end of this month.

The central government is aiming to have municipalities administer over 1 million shots per day between October and November.

The health ministry is urging the public to take the vaccine, also expected to be effective against the now-prominent BA.5 subvariant, when it becomes available, and is also considering the introduction of products adapted to the new subvariant.

People will be able to take the booster once five months has elapsed since their previous shot. But as some countries require an interval of three months or less, the ministry is considering shortening the gap and will make a decision by late October.