Japanese regulators recommended the approval of COVID-19 vaccines developed by Moderna Inc and AstraZeneca PLC's on Thursday, paving the way for the country to speed up its slow-moving vaccination campaign.

The recommendations by a health ministry panel precede official approval by the government on Friday, NHK reported.

Supplies of the Moderna doses have already been imported and are planned for use at mass vaccination centers in Tokyo and Osaka from next week.