New Corona Vaccine How is it different from the influenza vaccine?
November 10th, 21:01
Vaccines against respiratory tract infection viruses are said to be difficult to develop, and there is no other vaccine in practical use than the influenza vaccine.
Influenza vaccine
According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, influenza vaccines do not completely suppress infection, but inoculation can be expected to have the effect of preventing the onset of influenza and its aggravation to some extent.
A domestic study found that it was effective in preventing 34% to 55% of cases and 82% of deaths in the elderly aged 65 and over.
Studies have also shown that vaccines reduce the risk of developing the vaccine in children under the age of 6 by about 60%.
New corona vaccine
On the other hand, many vaccines against the new coronavirus are being developed with completely different technologies from conventional influenza vaccines, so it is not known in detail how effective they can be expected.
Influenza vaccines are manufactured by treating them with chemicals to prevent them from multiplying the actual virus and infecting it.
This time, Pfizer is developing a vaccine that uses a gene called "mRNA."
By administering "mRNA" that has information on the new coronavirus, it works like a blueprint in the body and creates a part of the virus that serves as a marker for immunity.
According to Professor Tetsuo Nakayama of Kitasato University, who is familiar with vaccine development, this vaccine is administered by wrapping "mRNA" in lipid granules, which may lead to more efficient antibody production.