Japan scrambles to get the vaccine, but how many people get the shot?

The government is scrambling to start rolling out coronavirus vaccines as early as the end of February. But in a country where many people are skeptical about vaccines in general, Japan may face a daunting challenge in trying to get people to get the sights even when they are available.

There is a worldwide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective and help achieve herd immunity – a light at the end of the tunnel.

Recent censuses have shown that nearly 70% of Japanese are willing to receive a coronavirus vaccine. But still, suspicion against vaccines is deeply rooted in the country.

In a 2016 EBioMedicine survey of 67 countries, 31% of Japanese were skeptical about vaccine safety, ranking third highest after France (45.2%) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (38.3%). The global average was 13%.

While routine vaccines inject a weak or inactive form of live virus to stimulate an immune response, the messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines developed by U.S. companies Pfizer Inc. and Moderna Inc.

Once injected, the mRNA directs cells to produce spike proteins found on the surface of the coronavirus that the immune system recognizes and makes antibodies against. In the process, mRNA does not enter the nucleus of the cell, where DNA is stored, and breaks down shortly after the mRNA provides the instruction, according to the U.S. Centers for Control and Disease Prevention (CDC).

Vaccine skeptics

A small group of doctors has expressed concerns about the modern or two-stranded DNA mRNA vaccines developed by British drug dealer AstraZeneca. Among them is Dr. Masahiko Okada, professor emeritus of Niigata University, 74. He is for flu and other vaccines in general, but said he would not get a coronavirus vaccine, citing possible side effects vaccines that use a piece of genetic code over the long term.

“Many cases of death and cancer have been recorded as a result of gene therapy,” Okada said. “When an artificially transmitted gene enters the body, the location of the established genes cannot be predicted. It may be the gene that triggers cancer. The cancer latency period can be five years or more, so it is not known if there are any adverse effects if it is not detected for at least five to 10 years. “

Okada also said it laments distrust for the pharmaceutical industry, as Western companies in the region have a history of being dragged down billions of dollars in penal penalties for handling data or fostering the promotion of off-label medical products, among other things.

“The main reason I’m skeptical about the coronavirus vaccine is because I can’t trust the data that the pharmaceutical companies have named,” he said.

“I am not an ‘anti-vaxxer’ myself and I want the flu and HPV vaccines. I’m just against the coronavirus vaccine because I don’t see a scientific basis (on safety), ”said Okada, using a term for those who are against vaccines.

It is unclear whether vaccine levels in Japan reach the 65% or higher required for herd immunity, thus allowing our lives to return to normal again. But opposition to vaccines is likely to be among the margins of population here to stay current.

“Predicting coronavirus exposure is difficult, but humans and viruses have coexisted for tens of millions of years,” Okada said. “The death rate from Spanish flu a hundred years ago was very high but it disappeared completely in three years. What I fear most is that, although things could return to normal in a few years, we could have a terrible situation where the side effects of the vaccines will still be in people. ”

Scientific consensus

Dr Kentaro Iwata, professor and head of the infectious diseases department at Kobe University Hospital, pushes such vaccine complaints, saying there is no controversy over vaccines in general among infectious disease specialists worldwide and to the matter has long since been resolved.

“The data shows good efficiency and high safety,” Iwata said. “To prevent the pandemic, it is essential to avoid human contact, but that alone is not enough. Vaccines are the only game changer, as there is no other option as effective medicated drugs are not available. ”

But the fact that there is still such a debate about safety indicates that Japan is far behind other countries in terms of vaccines in general, he said.

“Japan has had a negative history with vaccines for the last 30 years, with the government not having enough efforts to enlighten the public,” he said. “The big media is also to blame for over-emphasizing the risks of vaccines and all but avoiding the benefits that come with it.

“So it’s not easy to change people’s minds all of a sudden, but if you look at the data, it’s so clear by day that it’s better to have the perspectives.”

Concerns about side effects are small, although the US CDC has so far detected 21 cases of severe allergic reactions, or anaphylaxis, after vaccinations, at 11.1 cases per million doses. Iwata is aware of the concerns raised by vaccine suspects about any long-term side effects but says there is no point in discussing the possible side effects or ideas for other medical treatments will no longer take effect five to 10 years from now.

In Japan, patients are throwing in new drugs, and some medical doctors dispense new drugs marketed by pharmaceutical companies, Iwata said, although they add that it is prioritize the use of drugs that have been used successfully for the past 30 to 40 years.

“Patients are willing to take these drugs every day, without questioning their impact on health 10 years from now, and are suddenly worried about long-term side effects. when it comes to vaccines. This, I think, is at a double level, ”he said.

“If you have allergies, you should use a license when you receive the vaccine, but people without allergies would have a much better chance of reaping the benefits, as the risks are very small. ”

Getting over the pandemic coronavirus will depend on each individual getting the vaccine to protect others, Iwata said.

“Basically, there is no other solution to a coronavirus crisis than reducing the number of patients,” he said. “But this message was not conveyed effectively. As things arise, so does the number of serious cases and deaths. “

When it comes to the pandemic, there is no reason to debate whether the government should prioritize the presence of the virus or keep the economy afloat, he said.

“Getting over the coronavirus comes before everything else,” Iwata said. “If you don’t like the lock or other measures that severely limit our social life, it’s best to get vaccinated.

“That would be the only cure.”