Japan starts booster COVID vaccinations

I got my second jab in August, so I've got a while to go, but I'll be looking for those Vaccination Coupons in the mail.

Yep - Bring it on.

Yes, a necessary, helpful and nice try, but for arising omicron those 77% , using only 72% ‘effective’ vaccines, if added quite a generous optimism bonus, are in fact almost like nothing, if not accompanied with a big catalog of other measures. At least 96% are needed from now on, again more than those 91%-94% with delta.

Booster? I don't even plan to get the first one. Thanks for the offer anyway.

I can consider a booster shot, but I still have nightmares about the fever I got after the 2nd shot, not really lookig forward to another one.

OMG… people have lost their minds!!!

Omicron looks as weak as a cold and they are carrying on like it’s Ebola!

ludicrous!

Japan's initial vaccination drive kicked off in mid-February and some medical workers who received jabs more than nine months ago are now eager to get additional protection ahead of a possible next wave of infections - especially after the new variant known as Omicron,

But these booster shots are based on the original Wuhan virus; probably not much use against Omicron.

Can’t wait for mine.

The rest of us are cruising along just fine in our daily lives with no drama or histrionics.

Histrionics are perfectly understandable though. it's a real big deal for an antivaxer. Really life changing.

Can't even get in to some unremarkable eateries or gyms.

And of course if they get infected the chances of dying are many times over compared to the vaccinated

Sanjinosebleed

OMG… people have lost their minds!!!

Exactly. Four people currently hospitalized in a metropolis of 20 million, and the media freaks out as if it is Ebola. Like Bret Weinstein commented, it is like living inside somebody elses paranoia.

Looking forward to the booster and later omicron update shots, followed by the rest of the Greek alphabet.

I suggest they change variant naming to Kanji, so they don't run out of characters so soon.

Boosters huh? I had two shots and no one said anything about boosters back then. I just wonder what the big picture is?

Dirk

Looking forward to the booster and later omicron update shots, followed by the rest of the Greek alphabet.

It is the Microsoft model.... get regular updates from the Mothership.

I suggest they change variant naming to Kanji, so they don't run out of characters so soon.

Great idea! Do you think the WHO will use "习"?

ian

Histrionics are perfectly understandable though. it's a real big deal for an antivaxer.

Can you define "antivaxer"?

But these booster shots are based on the original Wuhan virus; probably not much use against Omicron.

They have been useful against all identified variants until now, "probably" is not a valid term to use unless you have data nobody else have to prove it. It is still completely possible the immunity from the vaccines gives enough edge to prevent the virus from replicating enough to give serious problems.

Exactly. Four people currently hospitalized in a metropolis of 20 million, and the media freaks out as if it is Ebola.

Saying that the experts are extremely cautious about the new variant is not freaking out. That is more what antiscientific people do when the news are not in line with what they want to believe.

Can you define "antivaxer"?

I'm surprised you asked me that.

Care to define it first?

Anyway you don't have to.

I'm sure we agree on the definition

I wouldn’t be in such a hurry to get a booster. There is no evidence that the current vaccines work against the new variant. I have no doubt there will be a new vaccine developed in the next few months for the new variant.

But these booster shots are based on the original Wuhan virus; probably not much use against Omicron.

They have been useful against all identified variants until now, "probably" is not a valid term to use unless you have data nobody else have to prove it.

The vaccines were less effective against delta than previous variants, because of spike mutations. Omicron has many more mutations on the spike protein, so "probably" is very appropriate.

Furthermore, the South African doctor who alerted the authorities about Omicron said that about half of her Omicron patients are vaccinated, in a country where only about 1/4 of the population is vaccinated!

@Sanjinosebleed, to be fair, booster shot was always planned to happen. Because the vaccine will slowly lose it's effect the more time pass by. The new variant merely created a more urgent feeling for the government to speed up the process. Most nurses and doctors had gotten their vaccine very early and considering they are at the front line, it's normal for them to get it first. You might call it mild symptoms,but it will still greatly effect nurses and doctors ability to work and might force them out of the field for weeks due to these symptoms. And just because the variant won't kill you doesn't mean it will make your life pleasant. Getting headaches, body aches, fatigue, cough etc for who knows how long is not something anyone want. Who can even work feeling these effect everyday? Do you want people holding important job to get this variant? For example a train conductor or a pilot? Or workers doing dangerous jobs? You might not care, but society as a whole can't afford it to spread everywhere. So yes, booster shots are gonna be necessary for many.

Furthermore, the South African doctor who alerted the authorities about Omicron said that about half of her Omicron patients are vaccinated, in a country where only about 1/4 of the population is vaccinated!

South Africa also rejected the Astra Zeneca concoction as pretty much useless very early. So it's too early to say for certain but that suggests the many specialists who have been saying for months the mRNA vaccines will within possibly only a few months make those who get it more susceptible to coronavirus or many other viruses are correct.

Booster? I don't even plan to get the first one. Thanks for the offer anyway.

A shame we can't all be intelligent.

I got my coupons for 1 and 2 yesterday. I really, really want my booster since its been 7 months.. but I'm an honest man, so I will take the coupons and my vaccine passport to the city office and ask if I qualify for a booster.

I wouldn’t be in such a hurry to get a booster. There is no evidence that the current vaccines work against the new variant. I have no doubt there will be a new vaccine developed in the next few months for the new variant.

Boosters needed for Delta which is still surging worldwide.

Oh no, no booster please.

I've got a booster last week, 6 months after my second shot. I'm in US, where we still have more than 80,000 cases per day and the number, unlike in Japan, is not coming down.

Booster? I don't even plan to get the first one. Thanks for the offer anyway.

@ El Rata

Fair enough. Please don't go to the hospital when you get covid, okay?

So it's too early to say for certain but that suggests the many specialists who have been saying for months the mRNA vaccines will within possibly only a few months make those who get it more susceptible to coronavirus or many other viruses are correct.

Yes, a number of experts have mentioned that these vaccines will decrease one's innate immune system. And Dr. Didier Raoult's group did observe that vaccination did seem to increase the infection rate.

The vaccines were less effective against delta than previous variants, because of spike mutations. Omicron has many more mutations on the spike protein, so "probably" is very appropriate.+-

Less effective is nowhere near saying "not much use" for that you need actual evidence they make no difference, which you don't have, making your comment just a baseless guess.

Furthermore, the South African doctor who alerted the authorities about Omicron said that about half of her Omicron patients are vaccinated, in a country where only about 1/4 of the population is vaccinated!

Anecdotal evidence is the lowest possible form of data for a scientific conclusion, since it is completely clear that the population being vaccinated includes those at a very high risk of infection (like the health care workers) so this do not support your guess either.

Pass. Will get a booster when they finally develop a vaccine to treat all the variants, and which does not infuse one with an overbearing sense in of moral rectitude.

That is as logical as saying you will drive without any seat belt until someone invent one that can protect you better. The extra risk you are subjecting yourself (and others) by not vaccinating completely outweighs whatever you could gain from another vaccine.

South Africa also rejected the Astra Zeneca concoction as pretty much useless very early. So it's too early to say for certain but that suggests the many specialists who have been saying for months the mRNA vaccines will within possibly only a few months make those who get it more susceptible to coronavirus or many other viruses are correct.

And what data do they have to prove the AZ do not make a difference with remaining unvaccinated, none? that is the whole point.

And no, there is absolutely zero evidence of your theory, no person is ever more at risk from COVID after the vaccine than before, specially because there is no mechanism for this to be the case for COVID.

Eight months from now be prepared to get you "booster BOOSTER" shot! This monster is not going away.

Booster? I don't even plan to get the first one. Thanks for the offer anyway.

Same Same for me and Yet have not ever caugh the covid despite getting 3 PCR tests when I had symtoms of covid they all came out Negative for covid. The University Hospital performed my PCR tests so its not a bogus PCR test.

Eight months from now be prepared to get you "booster BOOSTER" shot! This monster is not going away.

flu vaccine is yearly so effectively is a yearly booster shot, main difference is covid is about 10 times more fatal than the flu, dont want a covid booster fine, take your chances may lady luck be with you

Less effective is nowhere near saying "not much use"

What? Please read again. I wrote the vaccines were less effective against delta than previous variants, because of spike mutations. Omicron has many more mutations on the spike protein than delta. So it is perfectly fine to say the vaccines will probably not be of much use against Omicron.

Anecdotal evidence is the lowest possible form of data for a scientific conclusion,

Anecdotal evidence would be describing the symptoms of a patient. But I am quoting the South African doctor who alerted the authorities about Omicron, she chairs the South African Medical Association, and is probably the most qualified person now on the symptoms of Omicron infection.

Since half of her Omicron patients are vaccinated, in a country where only about 1/4 of the population is vaccinated, this supports the idea that the vaccines are not of much use against Omicron. Actually, if anything, this suggests that the vaccines increase your chances of having a symptomatic Omicron infection!

If you wait for a large pharma-funded study, with data not made publicly available, of course it will conclude that the vaccines are extremely effective. But so far, reality indicates the opposite....

Just got my Moderna booster yesterday.

While the second jab gave me a few side effects while my immune system spooled up to process it (some night sweats, daytime fatigue), the booster effects have been unnoticeable.

Raw Beer. Still quoting one Doctor from last week. Seriously. Is that all you have. What a tool you are.

What? Please read again. I wrote the vaccines were less effective against delta than previous variants, because of spike mutations

And you wrote that to defend your baseless opinion that vaccines would be of not much use for omicron, that is not an argument because being less effective is not the same as being ineffective. Your original statement continue being only your imagination presented as fact. Vaccines could be less effective and thanks to the very high original efficacy they would still be extremely useful to prevent the worst outcomes from the disease, you have presented zero data to demonstrate this is not the case.

Anecdotal evidence would be describing the symptoms of a patient. But I am quoting the South African doctor who alerted the authorities about Omicron

Your understanding about anecdotal evidence is terribly bad, without a proper epidemiological characterization this is still anecdotal, there is no detailed information that could allow other people to analyze the cases, no comparison to the situation previous to omicron, nothing to actually make a valid conclusion.

Since half of her Omicron patients are vaccinated, in a country where only about 1/4 of the population is vaccinated, this supports the idea that the vaccines are not of much use against Omicron

It does not matter how many times you repeat this failed argument, it can be debunked in the same way every time. Since the population being vaccinated is not equivalent to those that remain unvaccinated your conclusion is invalid, since people at an elevated risk of infection (like health care personnel) were prioritized for vaccination that would mean it could be expected even a much higher rate of positivity that was not observed. You keep avoiding to present this supposed source, maybe because it completely disproves what you want to believe.

If you wait for a large pharma-funded study, with data not made publicly available, of course it will conclude that the vaccines are extremely effective.

This is called a false dichotomy, where you pretend the only two options available are "evidence" of terribly low quality or a company doing the research, in reality neither is the case, and health care authorities and experts are perfectly capable of making good studies as proved by reports all over the world, that those reports invariable demonstrate vaccines as effective and safe is just something you are unable to accept, for not actual reason.

Novavax will be used for the new variant, the one Japan ordered months ago. I believe it was 150 million doses already ordered

Novavax is not a vaccine but a company, all companies should be considering omicron as a template for new vaccines, there is no mystery there. Depending on the evidence it can still be possible that no specific vaccine is necessary for this variant, or that a completely new formulation is better.

Fair enough. Please don't go to the hospital when you get covid, okay?

I already had the rona, I've had worse colds TBH. So don't worry I don't think I'll have to go anyway.

For those who are afraid to get boosters, you are big crybaby.

You are prolonging normal life, and spread of variant. I hope you drive an expired shaken car, and the cops pull you over on that day, then you forget your zairyu card, and the cops make you stay at the police station for 8 hours. Then think about why it is better to get the booster instead of have bad luck.

No thanks.

Too many concerns about the vaccines and they probably don’t work for omicron.

Lots of effective treatment options available.

ian

Can you define "antivaxer"?

I'm surprised you asked me that.

Care to define it first?

You brought it up, so you define it. I never use the term. Waiting!

Happy Day

No thanks.

Too many concerns about the vaccines and they probably don’t work for omicron.

Lets be clear what we are talking about.

The traditional definion of "vaccine" used by the CDC, before the changed it, was:

"Injection of a killed or weakened infectious organism in order to prevent the disease."

The current mRNA shots to NOT meet that definition. According to this traditional definition, they are NOT vaccines.

@virusrex do you have the evidences the vaccine works against omicron? Against Covid in general?

A double blinded cross study, not stopped after 3 months? And organized by an independent 3rd party? Not by the own drugmaker listed to the stock exchange?

Untill then, this is just a fragment of your imagination

No, novavax is the company that already has the vaccine for this variant

That is completely false, they just announced they began working on it, you should put more attention to what you read so you can avoid making such mistakes. Nobody has already a vaccine for the variant.

why do they keep moving the goal posts?

It is call accepting reality, nobody ever have said that vaccines would be effective against all variants, that is just antivaxxer propaganda, from the beginning it was clearly told that this is a race to achieve herd immunity before variants that could make all previous immunity (including from infection) ineffective.

Too many concerns about the vaccines and they probably don’t work for omicron.

Invalid concerns based on false information are not a valid reason, how come every single institution of science and medicine recommends them? are they all wrong and you right? obviously not.

The current mRNA shots to NOT meet that definition. According to this traditional definition, they are NOT vaccines.

So you still use the term "computer" to mean an occupation, right?

If the world experts that develop, test, research vaccines say something is a vaccine while a nameless person in the internet say they are wrong because they prefere outdated terminology I am very sorry but the nameless person is the one in the wrong. Your definition do not even include viral vectored vaccines, and we have had them for more than a decade.

@virusrex do you have the evidences the vaccine works against omicron? Against Covid in general?

Nobody has any evidence about omicron yet, that is the whole point. And there is plenty of evidence from all medical and scientific institutions of the world that say vaccines are safe and effective. You obviously will not pretend every single one is part of a drug maker, right? Which institution do you like? do they say vaccines are effective or not? Can you provide one university, research institution, scientific journal, medical association, etc. etc. that support yoru beliefs? because if you can't that mean your have no argument that anybody could believe.

there is no mechanism for this to be the case for COVID.

ADE has been shown, but only in vitro, and with inserted (but known/existing) mutations