With agreements to secure more coronavirus vaccines than it needs and legislation to distribute it for free, Japan appears to have implemented its vaccination plans. But a tense public history with vaccines and a cautious approval process is worrying some about how quickly the country can return to normal.
According to a Lancet study, Japan has one of the lowest rates of confidence in vaccines in the world, showing that less than 30% of people strongly agreed that vaccines were safe, important and effective, compared to at least 50% of people. the Americans. A recent poll by NHK found that 36% said they didn’t want to take a COVID-19 vaccine.
The government now faces a tricky balancing act: trying quickly to approve the jabs to return the economy to full health, without giving the impression of a rush job – which could help dissuade an already skeptical public. to be vaccinated.
“Japan is very cautious about vaccines because historically there have been issues with potential side effects,” said Haruka Sakamoto, a public health researcher at the University of Tokyo. “The government has been involved in several lawsuits regarding the issue, adding to their deep caution.”
Cautious timeline
The skepticism predates the more recent Western ‘anti-vax’ sentiment thriving on social media, with its roots in past vaccination-related events and legal rulings encouraging the government to adopt a passive stance on vaccination. take.
And ironically, Japan’s relative success in tackling the pandemic means that an early rollout of the shot is less of a priority. The country has avoided a second state of emergency, even as cases have soared to record highs.
As a result, Japan’s rollout will be slower than in some other countries, which has led to frustration among those who rely on vaccines to eradicate the virus. Only Pfizer Inc. has so far sought local approval for its coronavirus injection, even as the UK and US have both administered more than half a million doses, mainly to the elderly and health professionals.
Local media have reported that vaccines will be rolled out in Japan from the end of February, when the government aims to inoculate about 10,000 primary care health workers. The ministry will then prepare to vaccinate general medical personnel, after which it will be gradually administered to the wider population. Japan has not indicated when it plans to complete its vaccination program.
While figures such as US Vice President Mike Pence and President-elect Joe Biden have been given the dose, and leaders such as Indonesian President Joko Widodo volunteer to be the first to receive it in their country, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has said he will wait. his turn.
Health Minister Norihisa Tamura said Friday that he has asked relevant agencies to prioritize the review of Pfizer’s application, but did not provide a timeline for approval. A health ministry spokesman also declined to comment on the reported timeline.
MMR issues
Modern vaccine discomfort in Japan has its roots in a measles, mumps and rubella vaccination that some suspected led to higher rates of aseptic meningitis in the early 1990s. Although no definitive link was made, the recordings were discontinued and to this day Japan does not recommend a combined MMR recording.
Another catalyst was a 1992 court ruling that not only made the government responsible for any adverse reactions related to vaccines, but also determined that suspected side effects would be considered side effects, said Tetsuo Nakayama, a professor at the Kitasato Institute for Life. Sciences whose research focuses on vaccines. Two years later, the government revised a vaccination law and abolished compulsory vaccinations.
These events helped spread the message that vaccinations should be taken at your own risk, and diluted awareness of vaccination as a greater general benefit, said Mikihito Tanaka, a professor at Waseda University who specializes in science communication.
“Japan has strong health insurance and an accessible medical system,” he said. “Compared to places like the US, the incentive to gamble with a new vaccine for your health is very low.”
Dealing with the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is also high on the agenda. After media coverage of claims that the side effects of the vaccine included severe headaches and seizures, the Department of Health withdrew its recommendation for the injection in 2013, which has been shown to be safe and effective in preventing cervical cancer. Although it remained available on request, vaccination coverage is currently falling from 70% to less than 1%. That could have resulted in another 5,700 deaths, according to one study.
‘Broad shows’
Japanese medicines require clinical trials with Japanese for approval, but an emergency license based on data from other countries is allowed. Vaccines for the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic were issued an emergency permit after an evaluation of about three months.
Still, the government will have to be careful about how the public perceives a rapid approval process. The economic impact of the pandemic and the upcoming Tokyo Olympics could lead to faster approval, but also raise suspicion as to whether the shots were thoroughly vetted.
How the public will experience some typical side effects is also concerning, Nakayama said. Initial data from the vaccines shows local pain in 80% of cases and fatigue and headache up to 50%, but “there has never been a vaccine in Japan that has caused reactions at these levels,” he said. The issue raises questions as public opinion will ultimately determine the scale of the rollout.
“The final decision whether or not to get the vaccine will be made by the people,” said Minister Tamura on Friday.
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