Japan studying giving third COVID-19 shots next year

Japan has begun a study on whether it should administer third doses of COVID-19 vaccines next year, as reported The Japan Times.

The government will proceed with the study while trying to secure the supply of at least 200 million doses next year, officials said.

Taro Kono, the minister in charge of vaccination efforts, has said that Japan "will likely administer next year" third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

In July, the government struck a contract to receive an additional 50 million doses of Moderna's vaccine from the beginning of 2022, and discussions are under way to secure 150 million doses of the vaccine developed by Novavax starting in early 2022.