The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry on Friday gave fast-track approval to the inoculation of children aged 5 to 11 with a coronavirus vaccine from U.S. pharmaceutical firm Pfizer Inc.
The ministry is set to make it a "temporary vaccination" at public expense after deliberation at a panel of experts to be held Wednesday. The government plans to start vaccinating about 7.15 million children as early as March, and is considering bringing forward that schedule, too.
