Japan approves Novavax COVID-19 vaccine

Japans health ministry officially authorized Novavaxs COVID-19 vaccine, a fourth foreign-developed tool to combat the infectionsBy MARI YAMAGUCHI Associated PressApril 19, 2022, 5:02 AM – 2 minutes readShare to FacebookShare to TwitterEmail this articleTOKYO– Japans health ministry on Tuesday formally authorized Novavaxs COVID-19 vaccine, a fourth foreign-developed tool to combat the infections as the nation sees indications of a renewal led by a subvariant of fast-spreading omicron.The ministry approval comes the day after its professionals panel endorsed usage of Novavaxs protein vaccine, which is developed with comparable technology utilized to fight diseases such as the flu and liver disease B, for the very first two shots and a booster.Health Minister Shigeyuki Goto told reporters that Novavax product includes range to the choices readily available and might appeal to those who are hesitant to use COVID-19 vaccines such as Pfizers and Modernas, which are developed with newer technologies.Jabs utilizing Novavax vaccine are expected to start as early as late May.Japan reported 24,164 new cases Monday, according to the health ministry. Japan is slowly reducing the border manages following sharp criticisms for its longtime restrictions on non-resident foreign trainees, scholars and service people, but Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has actually said Japan is not thinking about restarting incoming tourist anytime soon.Booster shots have been slow in Japan and less than 50% of the population had received booster shots of primarily mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. About 80% of the Japanese elderly population had actually received three shots.Goto said Japan has actually concurred to buy 150 million doses of the Novavax shots developed by the Maryland business, which will help support vaccine supply in a nation that totally relies on foreign imports while advancement of its own vaccines have actually fallen behind.