The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has decided to inoculate the new coronavirus vaccine for the third time.
▽ When and for whom?
▽ What are the effects and side reactions you care about?
▽ What is the status of inoculation overseas?
This is the latest information on the third inoculation at home and abroad.
Policy approval for additional vaccination “Use the same vaccine in principle”
According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, it has been reported at home and abroad that the effectiveness of the new coronavirus vaccine will decline over time. I am considering starting inoculation.
On the 17th, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare held a subcommittee made up of experts and announced and approved the policy of booster vaccination using the same vaccine for Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca vaccines in principle.
1. When will it be implemented?
In Japan, vaccinations for medical professionals began in February and for the elderly in April.
The subcommittee also proposed a plan for people who have been inoculated for more than 8 months after the second vaccination, but the committee members pointed out that "there is a lack of scientific basis" and it will be scientific in the future. We decided to consider it based on our knowledge.
In addition, regarding the timing of booster vaccination, there was an opinion calling for an early start, saying that "the number of cases in which medical staff who have already been vaccinated are infected", while "first of all, it should be prioritized to finish two vaccinations." Many voices said, and we will continue discussions.
2. Who will be inoculated?
Regarding the target people, we have decided to make a new decision based on the overseas situation, such as whether to target all of them for booster vaccination or to limit them to those who are at high risk of aggravation.
Although it is an overseas situation, the target audience varies depending on the country.
▽ Israel is 12 years old or older
▽ France is 65 years old or older, people with severe immunodeficiency, residents of facilities for the elderly, etc.
▽ Germany is people over 60 years old, residents of facilities for the elderly, immunodeficiency It is intended for health care workers and emergency personnel who come into regular contact with people and infected people.
▽ From this month, the UK plans to start additional vaccinations for people over 50 years old, medical staff and long-term care workers working in the field, and people with underlying illness.
▽ The United States is currently considering adding to the target people with moderate or higher immunodeficiency, as well as those who have completed the second vaccination from this month and have been inoculated for more than 8 months, and will decide on the night of the 17th. I have decided.
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare will consider who will be eligible and when to start.
Expert "First, finish the two vaccinations"
Professor Kenji Okada of Fukuoka Nursing University, who is the chairman of the Japan Vaccine Society, said, "It is not the third discussion, but the first thing we have to do is to ensure that the vaccine is delivered to those who want it and finish the two vaccinations. However, as WHO = World Health Organization points out, I think it is important to have a perspective on people around the world who have never been vaccinated. "
In addition, he said that it would normally be decided after conducting clinical trials in Japanese people whether to inoculate the third dose, and that "even those who have been inoculated twice are experiencing so-called" breakthrough infection ". It is necessary to prepare for the third inoculation. Just as there are individual differences in how antibodies rise, there are individual differences in how they fall. Also, cell-mediated immunity is immunized separately from antibodies. It is not yet known whether cell-mediated immunity will be less effective in half a year because it is thought that the patient has acquired the memory of the disease. It's important to think about how to inoculate every year because it's okay to become. "
National Association of Health Facilities for the Elderly "I want you to give priority to the third inoculation"
Kentaro Higashi, chairman of the National Association of Health Care Facilities for the Elderly, said, "It is natural that medical staff are the top priority, but I also want residents of facilities for the elderly and care workers to be given the third vaccination with priority. Later, so-called "breakthrough infections" have also appeared in facilities for the elderly, but the number of clusters has decreased sharply and the disease is relatively mild, saving the lives of many elderly people. I think elderly people and caregivers who are at high risk of getting sick need to be given a third dose early. "
“Infection prevention effect decreases over time” Delta strain also reduces onset prevention effect
According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, it has been pointed out in the United States that the new coronavirus vaccine may become less effective in preventing infection over time.
In addition, it is said that the replacement with the Delta strain has reduced the onset prevention effect, and compared to the Alpha strain, which was the mainstream before,
the onset prevention effect of Pfizer's vaccine was 88%, 5.7 points
▽ AstraZeneca was 67%.
There are also reports that each will decrease by
7.5 points
.
Pharmaceutical company "Increase in neutralizing antibody that suppresses the action of Delta strain by booster inoculation"
Under these circumstances, each pharmaceutical company says that the level of neutralizing antibody that suppresses the action of the delta strain will increase by the third booster vaccination.
<Pfizer>
Reported that
the neutralizing antibody titer one month after the booster inoculation
increased more than 5 times for
those aged
55 and under and more than
11 times for those aged 65 to 85
compared to one month after the second inoculation.
I am.
<Moderna> It is said that
the neutralizing antibody titer 2 weeks after the booster inoculation increased about 42 times compared to 6 months to 8 months after the second inoculation.
<AstraZeneca> It
is reported that the neutralizing antibody titer increased after the booster inoculation.
What are the side reactions after booster vaccination?
About side reactions after
boosting
overseas
▽
Overseas
▽ Pfizer vaccine was "similar or less frequent" than the second inoculation
▽ Modelna was "acceptable" "more than half of the side reactions were mild or moderate" It was a degree. ”
▽ AstraZeneca
reported that it was
“ less than after the first inoculation
. ”
“Prospects to secure the vaccine required for booster vaccination” Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare
According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, it is expected that the vaccine required for booster vaccination will be secured.
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has
signed a contract with Pfizer to receive 194 million supply within the year, and is proceeding with discussions on the assumption that it will receive another 120 million supply from the beginning of next year.
▽ We have a contract with Moderna to receive 50 million doses by the end of the year and another 50 million doses from the beginning of next year.
▽ We have a contract with AstraZeneca to receive supply for 120 million times.
"Is it possible to get around ..." The issue is "the burden on the local government"
The concern is the burden on the local government.
▽ It is necessary to secure new venues and personnel for additional inoculation ▽ It is
also necessary to surely grasp those who have been inoculated for more than 8 months from the second inoculation and send the inoculation ticket. Become.
While many local governments are still busy dealing with two vaccinations, if additional vaccinations start, not only will the burden increase, but the procedures will become complicated and confusing.
<Toshima-ku, Tokyo person in charge>
"I'm worried that I'll be able to prepare for the third vaccination while I'm doing the second vaccination. There are many issues such as whether to send it or when to secure the venue. ”
<Tokyo Adachi Ward staff>
“ It is necessary to consider establishing a permanent inoculation venue, so whether it will be the third time or not, we will continue to inoculate every year. I want the country to show a long-term schedule. "
53% of the total population has completed the second vaccination in Japan
According to the latest situation announced by the government on the 17th, 82,677,879 people have been vaccinated with the new coronavirus at least once in the country, accounting for 65.3% of the total population.
In addition, the number of people who completed the second vaccination was 67,204,659, accounting for 53.1% of the total population.
Booster vaccination The world situation is ...
In order to improve the effectiveness of the vaccine, some countries in the world are starting to give additional vaccinations to those who have completed the vaccination.
Israel 3rd start from last month Delta strains increase infected again
In Israel, more than 80% of people over the age of 16 have completed two vaccinations, and at one point the number of newly infected people per day has decreased to a single digit, but the highly infectious mutant virus "Delta strain" As the number of infected people increased again with the spread, we started the third vaccination from last month.
UK The third full-scale start from next week Targets medical professionals, etc.
In the UK, we are planning to start a third additional vaccination in earnest next week to "maintain the effectiveness of the vaccine".
The target is
▽ residents of facilities for the elderly and
▽ medical workers
▽ people over 50 years old, etc.
As a result
of
clinical trials, it is basically vaccinated with Pfizer or Moderna vaccine as it has been confirmed to be highly effective. In the case of Moderna, the amount is halved.
Policy to be given to people who have passed a certain period of time since the second vaccination in the United States
The United States has indicated that it will give a third dose to people who have been vaccinated with Pfizer or Moderna vaccine for a certain period of time.
The reason is that
▽ The effect of preventing infection and onset is expected to decrease with time after vaccination, and in particular, these effects are expected to decrease for Delta strains.
▽ The third inoculation suppresses the action of the virus. It is
mentioned
that research results have been obtained that the value of "neutralizing antibody" rises significantly
.
The FDA = Food and Drug Administration will hold a committee of experts on the 17th to consider the pros and cons of inoculation.
Started additional inoculation for elderly people in Germany, France, Sweden, etc.
In addition, in Germany, France, and Sweden, additional vaccinations have begun for elderly people who have completed two vaccinations.
WHO “Don't do it until the end of the year to promote vaccination in developing countries”
On the other hand, the WHO = World Health Organization is calling on each country not to give additional vaccinations at least until the end of the year in order to promote vaccination in developing countries where vaccines are in short supply, raising concerns about vaccine supply. I am.
WHO / FDA “At this point, it is not recognized that it is necessary for the general public to do it”
In addition, WHO and FDA experts published their views on booster vaccination in the British medical journal The Lancet on the 13th, based on the papers and data published so far.
Among them, experts said
that the effect of preventing the patient from becoming severe was maintained by the previous vaccinations,
and it has not yet been clearly shown what kind of effect the additional vaccinations will have. as such as
currently required it was not observed to perform additional vaccination to people of widely generally, has been that we should give priority to people who have not yet vaccinated.
Experts' opinions are divided on what kind of effect is expected and who is targeted for the booster vaccination, and the debate continues.