An academic society specializing in vaccination occupational inoculation summarizes precautions for businesses

Along with the start of occupational inoculation of the new coronavirus vaccine, a specialized academic society has summarized points to note when inoculating occupational areas for businesses.

This guide was compiled by the Japan Society for Travel Medicine and the Japan Society for Occupational Health, and was released on the website of the Society on the 21st.

The guide answers frequently asked questions and explains points to note when companies and others inoculate the new coronavirus vaccine in their workplaces and how to deal with side reactions.

Regarding side reactions, it is important to prepare a system such as preparing medicines at the venue, as it is more likely that younger generations will have a severe allergic reaction "anaphylaxis" that is said to occur rarely.

In addition, although side reactions such as fever often disappear in 1 to 2 days, the symptoms are strong after the second vaccination, and it is expected that some people will take a break from work. It is required to prepare for absenteeism such as inoculation.

In addition, the handling of personal information of inoculated employees and enlightenment not to force employees to inoculate are also included.

Atsuro Hamada, a specially appointed professor at Tokyo Medical University, who compiled the guide, said, "If occupational inoculation spreads, it will be the best way to end the epidemic. It's important. I would like companies starting vaccinations to read the guide and proceed with caution. "

Vaccination including major private railway part-time employees

A major private railway company in the Tokyo metropolitan area has begun inoculating the new coronavirus vaccine in the workplace, including part-time employees at supermarkets of group companies.

The Tokyu Group, which is headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo, began vaccination in the workplace at a directly managed hospital on the 21st, and station staff of Tokyu Corporation were vaccinated after being interviewed by a doctor.

In addition to railways, the Tokyu Group has supermarkets, long-term care facilities, and after-school care facilities, and we will proceed with inoculation regardless of employment type.

Of these, in supermarket workplaces where there are many part-timers and part-time workers, the manager of each store asks employees in writing that they want to get the vaccine at work, plan to get it at their family doctor, or do not want to get vaccinated. about it.

A woman in her 40s, a nurse working at a long-term care facility, said, "I work with the elderly every day, so I am careful about infection. I was talking.

A man in his thirties who works at a school childcare facility said, "If an infected person appears at the facility, the child of the parent who works as an" essential worker "will not be taken care of, so it is better to get vaccinated faster." It was.

The Tokyu Group said, "We will solicit" applicants "from employees and promote inoculation. In consideration of those who do not wish, we will continue to carry out PCR tests on a regular basis to ensure the safety and security of our customers and employees. We will strive to secure it. "

Doctor "Younger generation is more likely to have a reaction with vaccination"

Doctors who have been treating critically ill patients with the new coronavirus need to respond to the progress of vaccination to the younger generation by occupational vaccination, and expect the effect of reducing the number of infected people as well as the severely ill.

On the other hand, in the younger generation, the pain and tension associated with vaccination are relatively likely to cause a reaction such as a violent heartbeat, so it is necessary to relax and receive the vaccination.

Dr. Satoshi Kutsuna of the National Center for Global Health and Medicine hopes that the spread of the new coronavirus often begins in the younger generation, and that the number of infected people can be reduced by inoculating the younger generation with occupational vaccination.

Dr. Kutsuna said, "Young people have a low risk of becoming severe, and you may think that inoculation is not very meaningful, but the mutant virus that is spreading now has an increased risk of becoming severe. In addition, there is a possibility that aftereffects may remain, so please consider inoculation to prevent the spread of infection around you. "

On the other hand, Dr. Kutsuna says that the vaccine is prone to side reactions such as fever and malaise after the day after the vaccination, so it is necessary to give consideration to work in the occupational vaccination.

In the younger generation, not only the new coronavirus vaccine but also the "vascular stray nerve reflex" that causes heartbeat, shortness of breath, dizziness, and hyperventilation due to the pain and tension associated with the vaccination itself is compared. Since it is easy to get up, it is necessary to relax and get the vaccination in the place where the occupational vaccination is done.

There is a part similar to "anaphylaxis", which is a very rare and severe allergic symptom, but it is different. The "reflex" occurred at a rate of about 1 in 200 to 300 people.

Dr. Kutsuna said, "It is not a rare reaction, but it can be prevented to some extent by taking measures such as lying down in a relaxing environment and inoculating in a comfortable posture. There has been a reaction with previous vaccinations. People can do what they can if they ask in advance. If they take appropriate measures, they will return to their original state in a short time, so there is no need to hesitate to inoculate. "

What is "vasovagal reflex"?

In general, vaccination may cause a reaction called "vasovagal reflex" that causes symptoms such as dizziness and shortness of breath due to pain and tension during injection.

A doctor who actually responded to these symptoms by vaccination with the new coronavirus said, "If you take appropriate measures, it will be cured, so it is important to wait for a while without returning immediately after vaccination."

At the clinic in Inage Ward, Chiba City, about 5,000 people, mainly the elderly, have been vaccinated with the new coronavirus vaccine.

According to Dr. Fumio Kawachi, who is inoculating the vaccination, in May, a woman in her 60s who had been vaccinated complained that she felt sick when she was sitting in the waiting space after the vaccination.

The woman had "bradycardia", which slowed her pulse, and was trying to become conscious, but she had no symptoms of allergic reaction, and she had symptoms such as dizziness due to a decrease in blood pressure due to pain and tension. It means that it was judged as "nerve reflex".

Immediately after taking measures such as putting it to bed, it improved in about 5 minutes, and then returned home.

According to Dr. Kawachi, these symptoms are more likely to occur in the younger generation.

Dr. Kawachi of "Inage Satie Clinic" said, "Such a reaction may occur even with an influenza vaccine. If properly treated, the symptoms will subside, so it is important to watch the situation without returning immediately after inoculation. I want you to get enough sleep and get in shape because your physical condition also affects you. "