Japan is likely to consider administering the fourth dose of coronavirus vaccine to its citizens depending on the severity of the pandemic.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazo Matsuno was quoted saying that the fourth dose is expected to be offered from this summer. He further added that the decision would be finalized after a high end discussion between concerned government bodies and healthcare experts.
It is worth noting that, the nation was badly hit by the omicron variant in February this year, when half of its population were yet to receive their first booster shots. Thus, the government is taking all the necessary measures to inoculate people before another variant hits the country.
So far, Japan’s first booster dose campaign has gained massive boost and has covered around 28% of the total population within a few weeks. The government is currently aiming at inoculating nearly 128.2 million people by the end of April this year
The Japanese government is said to have ordered for 130 million Pfizer and 93 million Moderna shots. Moreover, the government has also contracted to buy over 100 million vaccine shots from Novavax Inc.
As per reliable sources, Takeda Pharmaceutical Co will join hands with Novavax to produce the vaccines domestically once the patent gets approved by the concerned regulatory body of the country.
Furthermore, another Japan-based pharmaceutical major Shionogi & Co Ltd is developing a vaccine patent which is said to be at par with the effectiveness of Pfizer doses.
Recently, the health ministry of Israel released a statement saying that a fourth vaccine dose or the second booster can make people three times more resistant to severe COVID 19 infection and reduce the chances of hospitalization.
Similarly, several nations are offering booster doses to their citizens especially to the risk groups including the geriatric population and people with co-morbidities.
