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Japan OKs distribution of Omicron booster shots from this month

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lack of faith in their belief systems

Lack of faith in my immune system or lack of faith in governments due to coercion and fear tactics... hmmm... which one...

8 ( +13 / -5 )

SDCA

I just want to see the day when everyone stops wearing masks.

But, there were never any days like that in Japan pre-Covid, at least during flu and allergy seasons. Why would it be any different post-Covid?

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

Rodney

Impossible to develop a new vaccine in a matter of a month.

It is not a new vaccine. It is a tweak to an existing vaccine. The same thing is done every year with the flu vaccine to formulate it against the strains that are expected to be prevalent that year. (Although, they do guess wrong sometimes on what strains will be prevalent, making the vaccine less affective those years.)

-7 ( +7 / -14 )

All you anti-vaxxers regurgitating the "8 mice derp derp derp" you saw on whatever internet "research" sites you frequent, are incorrect as in regard to this BA.1-targeted vaccine. The BA.1 vaccine has already been deemed safe based upon testing and use in humans, as well as mice.

Yes, the BA.4/5-targeted vaccine was tested on the mice for its efficacy against the variants. But, the tweak that was done to the already proven-safe BA.1 version to add BA.4/5 efficacy was so minor that it would not affect its proven safety.

-9 ( +5 / -14 )

Omicron booster shots

Don't you mean the vaccine that skipped human trials and was rushed by the CDC and other global health bodies. No thanks, I'm fine with my natural immunity.

4 ( +12 / -8 )

Starting to flesh out abit…looks like they are going to attach the need for 3 doses to the ability to get the upcoming travel vouchers….No subsidised travel without the jab…might not be mandating but definitely herding…

-3 ( +8 / -11 )

Still very happy for me and my family to be vaccine free and without any issue

I will not follow

Completely unvaccinated

I have not got any shot so far

Virtue well and truly signaled.

Give yourselves pats on the back.

-1 ( +7 / -8 )

Let's hope they don't start mandating annual boosters.

There were such mandates even for the original vaccine. But I did what most japanese did and gave in to the pressure (in my case from fellow gaijin living here). But no more.

Don't think you'll see any mandates in Japan.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

Good luck with your chances with covid side effects like long covid and death

Completely unvaccinated, I took care of my sick with Covid, vaccinated wife unmasked for three or four days before she went to the hotel for the remainder of her sickness.

As I was on Obon holidays, I intentionally tried to become infected to get it out of the way while I was on vacation so I didn’t have to miss any work. Alas, no such luck for me. I didn’t become infected at all.

I don’t expect I will be getting any shots or boosters.

7 ( +16 / -9 )

A welcome development. I didn't get the original booster because for me who had the first two shots and got omicron (btw, I think it's fair to say if you got covid this year it was omicron seeing as 90% of cases in early January were already omicron), I didn't think it was necessary.

I don't really know if I'll get this one yet either - I'm not in an at-risk group and was happy enough with my symptoms. Might have to get it for travel maybe. Regardless, it's good that we'll have it for at-risk groups before the next wave.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

@theResident

@ian. Seconded

Got my 4th Saturday, so I guess the vaccine variant before this one in the article.

Fever on tthe day and the next, up to 38.9 degrees, mostly below 38, but I didn't feel ill. Muscle soreness at the site of injection, gone now.

And, btw I almost didn't get it, they were reluctant to give me the jab because I don't speak Japanese and no reliable translator on the site

-7 ( +7 / -14 )

Of course, they'll say it's effective.

Of course, they'll say is safe.

11 ( +19 / -8 )

Covid forever it seems. Personally I will only be vaccinated to the level that allows me to live some sort of normal life. Let's hope they don't start mandating annual boosters.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Still very happy for me and my family to be vaccine free and without any issue.

9 ( +17 / -8 )

0 shots seem safest way to go.

Agree.

If we're betting on which number of vaccinations one has would one be most likely to die of covid or have long covid, 0 shots seem safest way to go.

-4 ( +8 / -12 )

So dogmatic about the need for 3 shots. No, it is not effective. I will not follow.

0 shots seem safest way to go.

12 ( +19 / -7 )

Then there are the as of yet, unknown long term consequences.

Billions of doses have been administered, a long time has already passed, any new side effects you're imagining would be rarer than one in a billion.

Good luck with your chances with covid side effects like long covid and death

-9 ( +8 / -17 )

They believe they will get no symptoms if they get the COVID but also believe they gonna die if they take the vaccine.

And that would be because up to 80% of people have zero symptoms and for most others symptoms are extremely light.

Meanwhile, the vaccine knocks A LOT of people out for a couple of days. Especially 3 and 4, apparently. Then there are the as of yet, unknown long term consequences.

I'll take my chances with my immune system, thanks.

9 ( +18 / -9 )

Never understood people saying that the Omicron is just like the flu, but freakout when they are asked to take the vaccine. They believe they will get no symptoms if they get the COVID but also believe they gonna die if they take the vaccine. Is there a mind control skill to choose how you body will respond ?

Personal Bias should NOT be followed, if it contradict what the scientists and doctors says.

-3 ( +10 / -13 )

I just want to see the day when everyone stops wearing masks. Hopefully this is a step in that direction.

Not gonna happen in Japan.

Anyway you should be thankful others are wearing masks

-11 ( +4 / -15 )

I just want to see the day when everyone stops wearing masks. Hopefully this is a step in that direction.

13 ( +17 / -4 )

Great. But am not entitled to this coz I have not got any shot so far. Will get the seasonal flu shot in late November though

-4 ( +6 / -10 )

Based on this paper from the FDA website, Pfizer relied on data from the testing of 8 mice to produce this vaccine.

No, it does not, that would require the rest of the pages not to exist, because they are also part of the evidence used for the approval of the booster, and the full document also list results from clinical trials.

Nowhere in your link it says the only evidence taken into account is this single piece of data, if anything it proves the opposite, many different kind of tests were necessary to prove the increased efficacy compared with the first formulation.

Want to take vaccines? Should be up to the individual, just like the flu shot.

It is up to the individual, and just like the flu shot not taking it means dealing with the consequences of that decision (including being unable to do certain things).

2) At the beginning the vacine was supposed to be more than 90 % efficient against transmission but 2 years and 4 doses later they realize how far it was from the truth.

False argument, the vaccines were never though to be eternally effective, specially not against all and every possible variant that could appear, in fact the role of variants making all kinds of immunity less effective was widely discussed even before the vaccines were even developed.

Making up something nobody said and then calling this a lie only evidence that there is no actual argument against what it was actually told by the experts. This is not a reason to reject the vaccine, is an invalid excuse.

so I except the vaccination rate to be much lower this time.

Appeals to popularity do not prove a lack of efficacy, just that people are prone to disregard risks and do what is more confortable. The healthiest life styles are also not exactly the most popular either, that does not make a sedentary life with bad diet less unhealthy.

-14 ( +8 / -22 )

Already had the Omicron variant so why would I need this?

Vaccinations have been proven to stimulate your body to produce more antibodies than it would if you had gotten infected from exposure to the actual virus.

-3 ( +10 / -13 )

Great news, just ignore all the people complaining about.

Go for it bro! Vacinate to your hearts content.

-4 ( +7 / -11 )

so I except the vaccination rate to be much lower this time.

Hopefully the vaccination rate of the vulnerable groups would be still be high.

0 ( +8 / -8 )

Great news, just ignore all the people complaining about it!

-1 ( +14 / -15 )

I know many people that did the 4 doses but will not get vaccinated anymore from now on.

2 reasons:

1) They had little side effects with dose 1 and 2 but got pretty bad with dose 3 and 4.

2) At the beginning the vacine was supposed to be more than 90 % efficient against transmission but 2 years and 4 doses later they realize how far it was from the truth. So they started to lose belief in the vacine. The argument that it protects against severe forms of the disease is not strong anymore to convince them to get vaccinated again.

so I except the vaccination rate to be much lower this time.

11 ( +19 / -8 )

Most countries are open now and less and less require a vaccine ot vaccine passport or testing. Been waiting patiently for this moment.

Now able to pretty much travel freely so definitely not another shot of anything for me! I am kind of pissed that I had the original two (got really sick from second shot).

Want to take vaccines? Should be up to the individual, just like the flu shot.

5 ( +15 / -10 )

Even in the US, where healthcare costs, even with insurance, are out of control, flu shots are free or extremely low-cost

They understand that, for the very reason you mentioned, high cost of health care, flu shots are an absolute must

-5 ( +6 / -11 )

@kurisupisu: A genuinely sensible, responsible woman.

-7 ( +4 / -11 )

That has always amazed me, as covering the flu shot would ultimately save the country so much more than the cost of the vaccines in both healthcare costs and lost productivity.

Great point.

Not to mention the lives that could have been saved.

Same with covid, but in a much wider scale at the moment

-2 ( +9 / -11 )

@theResident

She had the blood work (due to the medical nature of her job) done to confirm

that it was indeed the Omicron variant.

10 ( +16 / -6 )

Great news, I'm lining up for jab number 5, this one might even work. I trust Big Pharma and the government, absolutely.

-10 ( +11 / -21 )

noriahojanen

Stop providing the upgraded vax for free of charge, or apply the regular healthcare insurance for it, just like in other programs for seasonal flu.

The national hoken doesn't pay for flu shots for most people. I have had to pay ¥4000 every year. At a certain age (65?), the price of flu shots is partially covered. Then, at another age level (70? 75?), it's finally free.

That has always amazed me, as covering the flu shot would ultimately save the country so much more than the cost of the vaccines in both healthcare costs and lost productivity.

Even in the US, where healthcare costs, even with insurance, are out of control, flu shots are free or extremely low-cost, depending on locality. The corporate overlords understand that a workforce sick with flu is an unproductive workforce.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

@kurisupisu : So, she specifically, had the blood test to check which antibodies she was carrying a month after recovering? Or she just tested positive for Covid? Two very different things.

-5 ( +9 / -14 )

There is already a BA.4/BA.5 adapted vaccine receiving emergency approval in the US. The Japan gov't is aware, and has only ordered 30 million of this BA.1 adapted vaccine in anticipation of purchasing the Ba.4/4 version upon JP approval in the coming months.

I'm looking forward to the latter one when I'm due for my next booster in December.

-6 ( +8 / -14 )

Is this the one that wasn't tested on people?

What do you mean "the one"? most seasonal influenza vaccines are not tested clinically, they are still much safer than not being vaccinated in the first place.

This booster is at an advantage because it have clinical data from omicron variant antigens replacing or being combined with the original protein.

-6 ( +19 / -25 )

Yes, I had Omicron back in April for sure.

I passed it on to the wife who was tested for it.

It wasn’t a problem for me and the wife had the longest ever break from work that she had ever had!

7 ( +20 / -13 )

@ian. Seconded.

-5 ( +9 / -14 )

Is this the one that wasn't tested on people?

6 ( +23 / -17 )

Tax money should no longer be wasted.

Agree.

Don't waste the shots get vaccinated

-4 ( +17 / -21 )

believed to be effective" is very different from "is effective"

Since this is based on scientific data of efficacy this is not just a baseless assumption.

I guess you can't legally say "is effective" if the study only involved 8 mice

That would be unnecessary because the proof of efficacy comes from much more complete sources including clinical trials that prove the omicron variant antigen coding mRNA is of higher efficacy as expected. Pretending the whole approval is based on one single small part of the data is obviously disinformation.

Waste of time! The omicron wave has passed and as we have seen the vaccines are next to useless against new variants.

The experts completely contradict you and they have the data to prove it, do you have any scientific evidence to prove they are all wrong? or is this just an appeal to your own authority on the field?

Already had the Omicron variant so why would I need this?

Because reinfections are not only possible, they are likely. And it is scientifically demonstrated that people get a reduction of risk after vaccination, even if they had the infection before.

Stop providing the upgraded vax for free of charge, or apply the regular healthcare insurance for it, just like in other programs for seasonal flu. Tax money should no longer be wasted.

The benefits for the economy of having a better control of the pandemic are huge, there is no point in saving cents to lose millions instead. The whole point of preventive medicine is that it is much better (even economically) to have important public health problems prevented instead of dealt with after they become unsolvable.

-9 ( +17 / -26 )

@kurisupisu: You've had Omicron for sure? Or you think you've had it? Have you had a blood test a month after recovering (costs about 10,000 Yen) to confirm that you were infected with this strain?

-2 ( +14 / -16 )

Already had the Omicron variant so why would I need this?

Ask your doctor if you'll benefit from this one

-11 ( +7 / -18 )

the boosters contain a higher amount of neutralizing antibodies that suppress the movement of the BA.1 subvariant in the body compared with the vaccine for the original virus

Didn't know the covid vaccines contain anribodies

4 ( +13 / -9 )

Stop providing the upgraded vax for free of charge, or apply the regular healthcare insurance for it, just like in other programs for seasonal flu. Tax money should no longer be wasted.

-8 ( +13 / -21 )

Good. Important as we head back into the winter months. Will he getting asap, flu jabs to come also. Will he a brutal season for that as we have efrectively missed a year.

-22 ( +13 / -35 )

Already had the Omicron variant so why would I need this?

9 ( +29 / -20 )

Waste of time! The omicron wave has passed and as we have seen the vaccines are next to useless against new variants.

4 ( +32 / -28 )

This pandemic is really irritating.

16 ( +27 / -11 )

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