Vaccination against the new coronavirus will begin on the 17th, targeting approximately 40,000 healthcare professionals.
Is it effective?
What are the side reactions?
Should I inoculate after all?
We have compiled the latest information on various concerns and doubts about vaccines.
(As of February 16)
Q. Prevent infection?
Prevent aggravation?
The new coronavirus vaccine is thought to prevent the onset and aggravation of the disease, not the infection.
The expected effects of the vaccine are:
▽ "Infection prevention effect" to prevent the infection itself ▽ "Infection prevention effect"
to suppress the appearance of symptoms even if infected ▽
"Effect to prevent the
onset of
symptoms" "Effect of prevention of aggravation"
▽ It is said that many people have
"
herd immunity effect" that protects the whole society by having an antibody against the virus.
Of these, the effect of preventing infection is difficult to demonstrate because many people do not develop the disease even if infected, and it is necessary to investigate in detail whether the virus has entered human cells, so it is difficult to demonstrate the vaccine of the new coronavirus. In the clinical trial of, the number of people who developed the disease was compared between the group of people who received the vaccine and the group of people who received the fake drug = placebo, and the effect of preventing the onset was mainly investigated.
PMDA (Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency), which reviews drugs in Japan, says that as a general rule, clinical trials to evaluate the effect of preventing the onset are necessary as a way of thinking when examining vaccines for the new coronavirus.
Clinical trials of vaccines in Europe and the United States have also shown how much they were able to prevent aggravation next to the effect of preventing the onset, and PMDA also cited the effect of preventing aggravation as one of the important items in the evaluation. I am.
In addition, the spread of vaccination is expected to have the effect of herd immunity.
Herd immunity means that most people in a group such as a country or region have immunity by vaccination, so that the infection does not spread even if some people do not have immunity. I say that.
WHO = World Health Organization does not know exactly the conditions for herd immunity, but more than 70% of the world's population needs to be vaccinated, and the world will be in herd immunity. Shows the perception that is difficult.
Q. What are the side reactions?
According to the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Implementation,
67.7% of
the approximately 997,000 people who received the new coronavirus vaccine developed by Pfizer and others
complained of pain at the site of
vaccination in the first vaccination.
,
▽ Fatigue 28.6%,
▽ Headache 25.6%,
▽ Myalgia 17.2%,
▽ Fever 7.4%,
▽ Joint pain 7.1%,
▽ Fatigue and nausea 7%,
▽ Swelling 6.8% it was done.
Severe allergic reactions have also been reported.
As a result of investigating 9,943,247 vaccinations in the United States from the start of vaccination to January 18, 50 cases were confirmed to have a serious allergic reaction called "anaphylaxis".
It is a calculation confirmed at a rate of 1.557 for every 200,000 vaccinations.
▽ The age of the symptomatic person was 26 to 63 years, the median was 38.5 years, and
▽ 94% were women.
In addition,
▽ 74% said
that symptoms appeared within
15 minutes after vaccination, and
▽ 90% said that symptoms appeared within 30 minutes.
Eighty percent said they had had an allergic reaction to drugs or food in the past.
Q. Should people who have been infected / recovered so far be vaccinated?
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is calling for vaccination even after being infected with the new coronavirus and recovering.
Regarding the safety of the vaccine, CDC can safely inoculate people who have been infected in the past based on the data of clinical trials, keeping in mind the mRNA vaccines of "Pfizer" and "Moderna" that are inoculated in the United States on the website. Explains that is shown.
In addition, we are calling on people who have recovered from infection to be vaccinated because it is unknown how long the immune system can prevent the onset of the disease again after the infection has recovered. He points out that the effect of "innate immunity" obtained by doing this varies from person to person.
On the other hand, the CDC is calling on doctors to talk to their doctors that they will have to wait 90 days if they receive treatment with blood from a recovered person or with artificially made antibody medications.
Q. How about vaccination for pregnant women?
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare does not impose an "obligation to make efforts" to inoculate pregnant women, and asks them to make a careful decision.
Regarding this, Atsuko Murashima, director of the National Center for Child Health and Development "Pregnancy and Drug Information Center," said, "Overseas, 10,000 pregnant women are vaccinated, but no effects on babies or pregnancy results have been reported. I don't think it will lead to quitting because it is a pregnant woman. Especially for those who have a high risk of infection such as having an underlying disease, I want them to be vaccinated without hesitation, including pregnant women. "
In addition, there is no information that there are many side reactions such as anaphylaxis in vaccination during pregnancy, but "If you inoculate a vaccine, you should receive it at a medical institution where you can see a pregnant woman in case of symptoms such as anaphylaxis. I want you to do it. "
On top of that, Director Murashima said, "When receiving a vaccine, it is important to listen to the explanation and be convinced before vaccination."
On the other hand, for lactating women, he said, "It is very unlikely that the vaccine will affect breast milk and the babies who drank it, and I don't think it will."
Q. How about vaccination for children?
Regarding vaccination of children, there is not enough data in clinical trials so far, and on the website of the Prime Minister's Office, "whether or not children are eligible for vaccination is examined while looking at information on safety and efficacy. I will. "
The vaccines of the three companies contracted by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and scheduled to start vaccination in Japan were analyzed in clinical trials for the effects of Pfizer vaccines over 16 years old and Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines over 18 years old. No data for ages below that is shown.
The vaccine from the American pharmaceutical company Novax, which Takeda plans to supply to Japan, has also been clinically tested in people over the age of 18.
Of these, 2,259 people between the ages of 12 and 15 participated in Pfizer's vaccine clinical trials, and Pfizer said in a December announcement last year that it would collect data on children over the next few months. I am.
Q. What is the effect of the vaccine?
Many pharmaceutical companies that develop new coronavirus vaccines publish the results of clinical trials on the effectiveness of the vaccine.
The effectiveness of the vaccine is evaluated by comparing the vaccinated group with the group receiving a fake drug that resembles a vaccine called placebo.
If the proportion of people who develop the disease is smaller in the vaccinated group than in the placebo group, it can be judged that the disease was effective in preventing the disease.
Among the vaccines contracted by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the vaccine developed by the American pharmaceutical giant "Pfizer" and the German biotechnology company "Biontech" and the vaccine of the American pharmaceutical company "Moderna" are clinical trials targeting tens of thousands of people. The results show that the effect of preventing the onset was over 90%.
Assuming that the percentage of people who received non-vaccine placebo who developed the disease after a certain period of time was 100, the percentage of those who received the vaccine was less than 10, and this was compared. It shows that the onset was suppressed by 90% or more.
However, even if vaccination is given, infection may occur, so even if vaccination begins, it is still necessary to take measures against infection such as wearing a mask and avoiding "three cs".
Q. Should I inoculate after all?
There is a lot of information about the new coronavirus vaccine, and some people are wondering whether to get it.
We have summarized the suggestions of experts who are familiar with vaccines and infectious diseases.
● Professor Ken Ishii, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo (leader in vaccine research)
"All of them are supported by transparent data and are probably at a level that is not a problem. Development speed is too high. I was worried because it was fast, but there is no problem with the number of participants and the accuracy in the clinical study. "
" It cannot be said that there are no long-term side effects, and the effects that will appear after several years are not yet known. time is in the all clear than those that do not know only from standing. new Given the risk of or with severe or infected with the coronavirus, is it is important better to reduce its risk by vaccination. "
" now vaccine In front of this, individuals and society are being asked, "What do you do?" Scientifically speaking, people at high risk, specifically those over 65 years old, should be vaccinated. Also, older people I want people and their families, such as those with underlying illnesses, to be vaccinated to protect those at high risk. If they are not vaccinated, the risk of infection remains the same. Considering the impact not only on themselves but also on their families and surroundings. I want you to judge for yourself. "
● Kawasaki City Institute of Health and Safety Director Nobuhiko Okabe (member of government subcommittee)
"At least, if you look at the data of clinical trials of vaccines in each country and information from countries where vaccination has already started, you should be very worried. I don't think there are any side effects. It may be more painful or less swelling at the time of vaccination than vaccines such as influenza vaccines, but in most cases it disappears over time. That's what we can see from the data so far. However,
I
think it is necessary to establish a system that allows us to consult and receive medical treatment if we are worried about vaccination.
" When asked if it is, the answer is "receive". If infected, it may be mild, but some people may become severe. Compare the ratio with the risk of serious side reactions with the vaccine. I think that the benefits of receiving a vaccine to prevent illness are greater. However, depending on your constitution, some people may want to receive it but may not, and some people will not want to receive it. I think it should be respected. "