Moderna COVID-19 vaccine vials. (Mainichi/Kenji Yagura)

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- A Japanese health ministry panel approved Wednesday the administration of U.S. biotechnology firm Moderna Inc.'s COVID-19 vaccine as booster shots.

       Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., which is in charge of sales and distribution of the Moderna vaccine in Japan, applied for approval last month to administer the third shot with a shortened interval of at least six months after the second jab.

       Font Size S M L Print Timeline 0