``The next vaccination should be given to all generations from autumn to winter
this year.'' This is the basic policy compiled on the 8th by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's expert subcommittee, which discusses how the new corona vaccine should be inoculated in the future.
On the other hand, the recent vaccination rate is sluggish, especially among the younger generation.
What will happen to future vaccinations while the policy of reviewing "5 types" is also decided?
What is the latest information on cost burden and effectiveness of vaccination?
Summarized in a Q&A format.
Q1. What kind of policy was finalized at the Expert Subcommittee on the 8th?
The new corona vaccine is currently being vaccinated free of charge as a ``special temporary vaccination'' as an urgent need to prevent the spread, but the deadline is the end of March. I'm here.
A subcommittee of experts from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare held on the 8th compiled a basic policy on how vaccinations should be from April onwards in the new fiscal year.
In order to reduce the number of seriously ill people, the first target is "people with a high risk of becoming seriously ill, such as the elderly."
On top of that, it is desirable to ensure that all other generations have the opportunity to be vaccinated.
Regarding the timing of vaccination, it is said that ``the next vaccination should be done from autumn to winter,'' because there has been an outbreak of infection with a relatively large number of deaths during the year-end and New Year holidays.
Furthermore, in light of the future spread of infection and the status of mutation strains, we will pay attention to the need for additional vaccinations for people who are at high risk of becoming seriously ill and those who frequently come into contact with people who are at high risk of becoming seriously ill. I'm here.
On the other hand, it is said that the vaccine to be used should be considered and a conclusion should be reached early.
Regarding the vaccination of the new corona, the government has indicated a policy that it will be possible to receive necessary vaccinations without self-pay even after April, and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare will continue to implement the current "special temporary vaccination". We will announce the policy in March this year as to whether to continue.
Q2. Vaccination, how often is it done now?
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare initially aimed to have those who wished to be vaccinated by the end of last year.
To that end, we are working to improve the system, such as delivering a sufficient amount of vaccines and occupational vaccination, and the vaccination rate is 42.3% as of the announcement on the 8th.
Looking at the number of vaccinations, on Fridays and Saturdays in November and December last year, when the fifth vaccination of the elderly who had been vaccinated for the fourth time with the conventional vaccine last summer was in full swing, the government's target of 1 There was a day when it exceeded 1 million times.
On the other hand, the average for the week ending February 5 was about 80,000 times a day.
Along with this, the pace of increase in the vaccination rate (vaccine for the Omicron strain) has also slowed down.
This is a summary of weekly vaccination rates and weekly increases since late November last year.
In December last year, it increased by an average of 4 points every week, but since January, the growth rate has remained at around 1%, less than half.
On the other hand, the vaccination rate by age as of the announcement on the 6th is as follows.
Over 70% of those in their 70s and 90s are vaccinated, while the rate among younger generations is sluggish.
Regarding this, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said, ``Since we assumed that the peak of vaccination among the elderly would be in December, we believe that the increase in the vaccination rate has stabilized. I want you to be vaccinated," he commented.
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare will continue to ask local governments to develop a system so that those who wish to be vaccinated can do so, and will also call for vaccinations through advertisements on television and the Internet.
Q3. What is the effect of the vaccine and the latest information?
The effect of the new coronavirus vaccine to prevent infection and onset is not long-lasting as a result of the spread of mutated viruses that easily escape immunity, while the vaccine for the Omicron strain can cause severe illness and death even for mutated viruses. The protective effect is believed to be maintained.
The CDC = Center for Disease Control in the United States analyzed the effects of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for Omicron strains compared to those who had not been vaccinated from September to November 2022, when "BA.5" was the mainstream. bottom.
As a result, in the case of people who have been inoculated for more than a week, the following effects were observed.
・Effective in preventing the onset of emergency medical care: 56%・Effective in preventing
aggravation
: 57%
We are also investigating the effect of the vaccine, and from December last year to the middle of last month (January), based on the vaccination status of those who were tested for the new corona, we analyzed the effect of the vaccine compared to the case without additional vaccination. We are announcing the results.
According to it, after inoculating the conventional vaccine multiple times, if the vaccine corresponding to the Omicron strain "BA.5" is additionally inoculated, the effect of preventing the onset of the following XBB lineage viruses is as follows. became.
・Ages 18-49: 49%・
Ages 50-64
: 40%
・Ages 65 and over: 43%
It is said that the effect of suppressing will increase, and that possible people should receive the latest vaccine booster.
In addition, among the effects of vaccines, there is data showing that the effects of preventing aggravation and death are long-lasting.
According to the materials released by the British health authorities in February, the following effects were observed when comparing the effects of the vaccine to those aged 65 and over compared to those who were not vaccinated during the period when the Omicron strain was the mainstream. was given.
・Effect to prevent aggravation (for those who have been vaccinated 3 or more times)
2 weeks to 2 months after vaccination: 78.1%
3 to 5 months: 65.3%
1 year to 1 year and 2 months: 52.3%
・Effect of preventing death (when inoculated 3 times)
2 to 4 weeks after vaccination: 85.0%
Around 4 months: 75.6%
After
about 10 months or more: 56.9%
As shown, the effect of preventing death tends to be relatively maintained.
Tetsuo Nakayama, a specially appointed professor at Kitasato University who specializes in clinical virology and is familiar with vaccines, said, "What I can say with certainty is that we can expect to suppress infection and onset for about one to three months after vaccination, and then It means that even if the antibody level is lowered, it is effective enough to suppress the severity of the disease.We should focus on the individual benefit of preventing the severity of the disease, and should be vaccinated once a year in autumn and winter. I think it's a reasonable idea.If a new mutant virus emerges, vaccine updates may be necessary, so I think it will be more important than ever to research the virus and share information with the world." increase.
Q4. What about vaccine development by domestic pharmaceutical companies?
According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, two domestic pharmaceutical companies are applying for approval of a new coronavirus vaccine that is being developed.
Among them, Osaka's major pharmaceutical company Shionogi & Co. applied to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in November last year for approval of a "recombinant protein vaccine" that creates virus proteins using genetic recombination technology and administers them to humans.
The vaccine, which contains ingredients that respond to the conventional new coronavirus, is seeking approval for the first, second, and third doses for people over the age of 20.
In addition, in January, the major pharmaceutical company "Daiichi Sankyo" applied for approval of the same "mRNA vaccine" as Pfizer and Moderna to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.
This vaccine contains a component that corresponds to the conventional new coronavirus, and is intended for use as a third vaccination for people over the age of 18.
In addition, Kumamoto-based pharmaceutical company "KM Biologics" administered an "inactivated vaccine" that administers an inactivated virus to humans, and drug discovery venture "VLP Therapeutics Japan" administered mRNA that conveys genetic information. We are also developing a "next-generation mRNA vaccine" that uses a new mechanism that proliferates in the body for a certain period of time.
Since August 3 years ago, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has provided subsidies of about 183 billion yen to domestic pharmaceutical companies for the purpose of supporting domestic production. We are aiming for an early and stable supply of vaccines.
Q5. What are the future discussions?
Since the deadline for "special temporary vaccination", which is free of charge, is until the end of March, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has announced that the specific system for vaccination from April onwards in the new fiscal year will be 3. We are planning to make a decision on the month.
In response to the summary of the Basic Policy Subcommittee issued on the 8th, the Immunization and Vaccine Subcommittee will be held later this month to discuss more specific subjects, frequency, timing, and types of vaccines.
In addition, the government has indicated a policy that it will be possible to receive necessary vaccinations after April without any self-pay, but it will be discussed whether to continue the current "special temporary vaccination".
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare will discuss the new corona vaccine at the CDC = Center for Disease Control in the United States scheduled for the 24th of this month. We are planning to revise government and ministerial ordinances.