COVID-19 vaccine syringes ready for administration are seen in this file photo. (Mainichi/Koichiro Tezuka)

       TOKYO -- Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare intends to recommend that males aged 12 to 29 take Pfizer Inc.'s coronavirus vaccines, on the grounds that Moderna Inc.'s shots present the demographic with a slight risk of inflammation, including to the heart muscle.

       The ministry also intends to encourage young men who first had a Moderna shot to receive the Pfizer vaccine for their second. The matter is set for discussion at an Oct. 15 expert panel meeting.

       Sweden has suspended Moderna vaccines for people aged 30 and under due to concerns they could cause heart muscle inflammation and other issues. Similarly, Denmark has halted Moderna vaccine administration for those under the age of 18.

       According to domestic reports current to Sept. 12, heart muscle inflammation and other issues were suspected among men in their 20s receiving Moderna vaccines at a frequency of 10.4 per 1 million shots, and at 14.49 per 1 million among boys aged 12 to 19. In contrast, Pfizer vaccines had an occurrence rate of 8.15 among men in their 20s and 1.3 among boys aged 12 to 19.

       (Japanese original by Ryosuke Abe, Lifestyle and Medical News Department)

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