What happens to influenza vaccination?
November 12, 19:01
"Influenza vaccination, I was surprised by the line of more than 50 people"
"I am filled with reservations up to one month in advance"
There are a series of posts on SNS saying that it is difficult to get influenza vaccination.
What is the outlook for vaccine supply?
Should I stagger the third vaccination of the new corona?
Before the flu epidemic, I investigated what I was worried about.
(Network News Department Yasuyo Mabuchi Shie Kanazawa Ayari Suzuki)
Some hospitals are reserved until mid-December
The Saiwai Children's Clinic in Tachikawa, Tokyo, began accepting reservations for influenza vaccines from October 1st.
Reservation slots prepared by mid-December are for 2400 people.
It took about two weeks to get rid of it, and after that I added 200 people, but it was filled up in no time.
Dr.
Shizuka Hirano
"It's hard to get information about the supply of vaccines compared to the usual year, so it was a half-month delay to start reservations from mid-September. In addition, due to the small supply, we have reduced the number of reservations by 20% to 30%. There are still many people who want to get vaccinated, but this is a situation where people are gathering in a small number of people. "
Even now, there are many inquiries about applications via the Internet or telephone, but unless canceled, we have to decline.
Dr. Shizuka Hirano
"I would like to increase the number of reservations if a vaccine is available, but at this point, we do not have much prospect of coming in. It is said that the peak influenza pandemic will be from late December to February. So, if possible, it's best to get it in December, but it seems that you have to get another medical institution. "
Influenza supply is less than last season
What is the supply of this year's vaccine?
According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the supply amount for this season is about 56.36 million people in terms of the amount of adults.
It's about 16% less than last season.
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare cites the slow production of vaccines as the reason for the decline in supply this season.
Influenza vaccines are made by culturing the virus in chicken eggs, but the amount of virus that propagates varies.
Last season, it was the highest amount since 2015, when it became compatible with four types of viruses, but it was rare.
Is the flu vaccine enough?
Last season, when the infection of the new corona spread, the influenza vaccine was used for inoculation of 65.48 million people, the highest number ever since 1996, when there is a record.
This season's supply is calculated to be lower than last season's usage.
Is it still enough?
A person in charge of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare
"Last season, due to the influence of the new corona, there was a high need for" at least I do not want to get the flu. " The amount is about the same as normal, so I think we can cover it to some extent. "
Delayed supply ... Expected to increase gradually
The new Corona vaccine, whose third vaccination will begin next month with healthcare professionals, is also having an impact.
The filter used to remove bacteria in the process of manufacturing the new corona vaccine is also used to manufacture the influenza vaccine.
Due to the delay in securing this filter, the timing of vaccine supply has also been delayed.
Most of the vaccine is distributed in the first half of the vaccine supply period every year, but this is expected to occur intermittently through mid-December and gradually increase.
The outlook for the trend you care about
An estimated 14,000 people visited medical institutions for influenza last season.
It has decreased to about 1/520 of the previous season.
It is believed that the new corona infection control was effective against influenza infection, but now that the state of emergency has been lifted and restrictions on behavior such as entry from overseas are gradually being relaxed, it is as usual. Will an outbreak of infection occur?
We asked Professor Koji Wada of the International University of Health and Welfare, who specializes in public health.
Professor Koji Wada
"Last year there was concern about the simultaneous epidemic of the new corona and influenza, but there was almost no epidemic both overseas and in Japan. Many people had no chance to get immunity. It is quite possible that many people will be infected. The
influenza virus is
transmitted by
the movement of people, causing an epidemic. Movement restrictions are relaxed and people move and interact during the winter vacation. In the meantime, it's important to think that this may be epidemic. The coming cold December-February is the first time of caution. "
There is a possibility that the fashion will continue
Furthermore, considering the situation overseas, it is possible that the epidemic will continue for a long time after next year.
Professor Koji Wada
"The world has taken measures against infection in the fight against the new corona, but according to WHO data, influenza-infected people are appearing in India and China. Currently, it is prevalent overseas. There are a total of three types, two types A and B, of which type B is the mainstream. In Japan, type A peaks in February, followed by type B in March and April. In the past, the epidemic had been sloppy until May. It should be taken into account that the epidemic may continue after February next year. "
Be careful with the third inoculation of the new corona
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare is calling for refraining from other vaccinations for two weeks before and after vaccination in order to avoid risks due to insufficient data on the usage record of the new corona vaccine.
The third vaccination is scheduled to begin next month (December) for healthcare professionals and January next year for the elderly. Is it okay to get the flu vaccine?
Professor Koji Wada
"Especially elderly people should be vaccinated now to avoid the aggravation of influenza. Then, I think it is better to vaccinate the new corona at intervals of 2 weeks. .
Although I particularly called for vaccination in order to avoid the simultaneous outbreak of influenza in you do not already have a new corona of the vaccine last year, vaccination of adults, there is a reflection that did not increase so much. it Given the last year of the trend It is said that there are few vaccines, but I don't think it will be a shortage. There are voices saying that reservations cannot be made on SNS etc., but contact multiple medical institutions and ask if they can inoculate. Please try it. "