As the infection of the Omicron strain spreads, there is a growing movement to advance the third vaccination of the new coronavirus at facilities for the elderly nationwide.
On the other hand, whether or not to inoculate ahead of schedule varies depending on the local government, and there are voices from groups made at facilities for the elderly calling for thorough information sharing between local governments and facilities, such as the fact that inoculation can be started without an inoculation ticket. increase.
At the facility for the elderly in Chiba City, the third vaccination of users and staff was originally planned to start next month, but due to the spread of Omicron strain infection, it was moved forward by about two months. It started on the 23rd of last month.
The target is about 600 elderly people and staff who use 5 facilities, 42 people will be vaccinated on the 7th, and all of them will be vaccinated by the end of this week.
A man who is the deputy director said, "Once an infected person is infected, the elderly can become seriously ill and cluster easily in the facility, so the staff is taking care of them with a great deal of tension. Obtain the consent of the family to inoculate ahead of schedule. It was difficult, but as the infection spread, being able to inoculate as soon as possible gives the user and staff a sense of security. "
On the other hand, whether or not to inoculate ahead of schedule varies depending on the local government, and according to the organizations created by the facilities for the elderly nationwide, only some of the facilities have already started the third inoculation.
Regarding the reason, the facility said, "I can't respond because I haven't received the vaccination ticket." "I consulted with the local government, but I was told that I couldn't respond because the vaccine wasn't available yet."
Kentaro Higashi, chairman of the National Health Facility Association for the Elderly, said, "Amid concerns about the spread of infection, many facilities for the elderly want to proceed with the third vaccination as soon as possible, but there are variations in the response. It is necessary not only to wait for the response, but also to actively raise a voice, and the local government can also share information such as sending the vaccination ticket early and notifying that it is possible to inoculate without the vaccination ticket at hand. I want you to be thorough and flexible. "
Special elderly nursing home Difficult to move forward "Inoculation early to protect the elderly"
At the special nursing home for the elderly in Yachiyo City, Chiba Prefecture, most of the users and staff have been inoculated for more than 6 months since the second inoculation, but it is difficult to inoculate ahead of schedule.
From the local government, the start of vaccination at the facility for the elderly is now due to the fact that the third vaccination of the medical staff who will be the vaccine maker has not been completed yet and the supply of vaccine is uncertain. I received an explanation from the end of the month to next month.
Koji Tsugawa, the director of the facility, said, "Since the facility for the elderly is available 24 hours a day, 364 days, if an employee becomes infected or becomes a close contact and cannot work, it will directly lead to the collapse of long-term care. I want to give the third dose as soon as possible, including the staff, to protect the people. "
The interval from the second inoculation can be shortened.
The third dose of the new coronavirus vaccine was initially planned to begin in December last year for healthcare professionals and for some elderly people this month, for those eight months after the second dose.
However, as infections of the Omicron strain were confirmed one after another, there were calls from local governments and others to advance the inoculation, and from December 17th, the interval from the second inoculation could be shortened to 6 months.
The targets are medical professionals, users and staff of facilities for the elderly, etc. Since last month, inoculation has started at medical institutions as well as facilities for the elderly.
In addition, general elderly people who have been inoculated for 7 months or more from the second time will be eligible for vaccination from February, and if vaccination to medical staff and users of facilities for the elderly is completed, it will start from this month. Some local governments have already started vaccination.
According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, there are about 9 million users and staff of the target elderly facilities nationwide, but by December, the local government will be supplied with 16 million vaccines including medical staff. There are 9 million vaccines left in the local government that have not been used by the second time, and it is said that it can be adequately dealt with.
In addition, even if the vaccination ticket has not arrived at the facility users or staff, it is okay to proceed with the vaccination first and submit it after it arrives.
Furthermore, in facilities for the elderly, Pfizer vaccines were often used until the second vaccination, but there is no problem with efficacy and safety even if the modelna vaccine is used in the third vaccination. about it.
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare says, "If the system in the local government or facility is in place, I would like you to respond as aggressively as possible to the inoculation ahead of schedule."