A volunteer is injected with a trial vaccine in Seattle. Photo: AP file
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Japan considers offering COVID-19 vaccines for free to all residents

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Perhaps first actually making an effective vaccine would be a good idea before contemplating this policy.

40 ( +54 / -14 )

No thank you.

5 ( +43 / -38 )

We could find a cure for cancer, covid19 and they would still have something negative to say.

Even though all residents would benefit, even though payments made by the government affected all residents including foreigners... always something negative to comment about on an article that should be good news, you will benefit as well if you live here.

-5 ( +30 / -35 )

Id wait myself as testing has been rushed and results are not in. And I certainly don't trust this government to make a decision with populations health having anything to do with their decision making process. Also time is on my side as "Municipalities will be in charge of offering the vaccinations, the sources said." And after seeing the months it took for everyone to get ¥100,000 I guessing it will take months to roll out this one.

11 ( +28 / -17 )

Its not exactly "free", we all pay for government expendetures in the end.

But they probably need to make it free since the government also intends to exempt drug companies from any damage claims if the vaccines end up causing people permanent health problems, death, or are just ineffective. Seriously, drug companies will have NO LIABILITY and the government intends to pick up the tab if there is a problem. Read about it here: http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13675845

So drug companies can skirt testing, fudge results, and make faulty products without worry of any public lawsuit. And again, we all pay for it in the end.

30 ( +39 / -9 )

COVID-19 vaccines are controversial , some say we need to develop it immediately, while others are cautious about unintended side effects and its effectiveness because of the rush in clinical trials. I'm not an anti-vaccine person, so I think I'll try if it is free.

-6 ( +14 / -20 )

A few points, usually it takes about 10 years for the Health Department to OK any new drug, I know it's urgent but that's a huge reduction in protocol. The government didn't want mass testing due to cost but find the money to vaccinate the whole population? If it works great I will do it, but my hesitation is due to as far as I know results haven't been verified completely and the virus has mutated. It's a political decision not a medical one, thus my vexation over this vaccination.

7 ( +22 / -15 )

The virus can mutate

22 ( +29 / -7 )

Everybody wins.

No, everybody does not win. Your neighbors will have to pick your tab for hospitalization if you need it. Hospitalization for Covid-19 is expensive.

Let's think beyond our owns noses.

-18 ( +15 / -33 )

I just worry about side-effect/after-effect of the vaccine, so I would not take it soon. I would wait and see for a short while, though I take seasonal vaccine every year, so far no problem.

13 ( +22 / -9 )

Is this a question? The cost of the vaccine vs. the cost of the economy crashing even further? It's a no brainer!

-10 ( +10 / -20 )

@Peter Neil

*No, everybody does not win. Your neighbors will have to pick your tab for hospitalization if you need it. Hospitalization for Covid-19 is expensive.

Let's think beyond our owns noses.*

They don't care about others whatsoever. I wouldn't even bother.

-7 ( +9 / -16 )

I would not take it for the first year. If there are survivors, then I might take it.

-4 ( +14 / -18 )

". . .  considers . . ."

Why do they even need to consider?

If efficacious vaccines exist, everyone should be immunized for free. Check that: I guess if you are making pot fulls of money, you should pay.

-13 ( +2 / -15 )

I'm not keen to get it at all. If I need to as a requirement for work, I'd rather wait. I'm in no rush to get it. Look at the 1976 Swine Flu vaccine that was rushed and pushed causing widespread neurological issues. I understand the need to get a vaccine ready quickly, but rushing might not always be a good thing. I'd honestly rather not get it all.

19 ( +25 / -6 )

Guinea pigs for the world! We need to stand up and say "We ain't having it" !

21 ( +29 / -8 )

Good thing most antivaxxers are vaccinated.

Pity on their kids though, they're the ones who might pay for the ignorance of their parents.

Please educate yourselves for the sake of the kids.

-15 ( +10 / -25 )

my maker gave me a strong body. keep that poison for yourself!

4 ( +24 / -20 )

we should try Anything to get people’s confidence back & the economy up& running again - even if it only has a placebo effect

-22 ( +3 / -25 )

No thanks! You guys go ahead, this thing was rushed, corners were cut and zero liability given to big pharma.

30 ( +37 / -7 )

El Rata! I agree!

0 ( +13 / -13 )

No thanks.

16 ( +22 / -6 )

As an American, I am jealous of something like this. I can only shudder when I try to think how much it will cost back home.

-6 ( +11 / -17 )

Perhaps first actually making an effective vaccine would be a good idea before contemplating this policy.

Because thinking how to distribute something that will have a very high demand just before beginning to do it always turns out fine, right?

Id wait myself as testing has been rushed and results are not in.

For any vaccine released next year the testing time is enough to do it in a completely normal, non-rushed, routinely way, the same for any other drug and vaccine already available.

But they probably need to make it free since the government also intends to exempt drug companies from any damage claims if the vaccines end up causing people permanent health problems, death, or are just ineffective. Seriously, drug companies will have NO LIABILITY and the government intends to pick up the tab if there is a problem. Read about it here: http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13675845

That is a terribly misrepresentation of the system, companies have complete liability the same as with any other service, the difference is that they don't have to defend against a particular (that in many cases needs to prove cause-effect for any damage, something that in many cases is scientifically impossible) the cases are decided automatically in favor of the person with the claim as long as he can demonstrate is is rationally possible (not even likely) the damage could have been caused by the vaccine.

Meanwhile the government keeps doing vigilance on the vaccine to make sure it is as safe and effective as the company says (search for ワクチンの国家検定) not only with epidemiological studies but with actual laboratory work to corroborate it on every single lot of vaccine put on the market.

The confusion is thinking that just because a particular cannot directly sue the pharmaceutical company it means it is free of consequences, that is not the case, with the system in place the company have to defend against the whole country if anything is found to be at fault, from taking the vaccine out of the market in the least important penalties to heavy consequences if scientific malpractice is found.

So drug companies can skirt testing, fudge results, and make faulty products without worry of any public lawsuit. And again, we all pay for it in the end.

No, without any lawsuit from a particular, instead the companies go directly to be investigated by the government even with criminal charges.

I won't take it myself, but I have no problem with my tax dollars being used to pay for the vaccine for whomever wants it.

A free, voluntary program is the way to go.

Everybody wins

"Letting" the government do something that is objectively and scientifically best is just the minimum anybody would have to do, even if for example someone thinks hospitals just kill sick people without curing anybody it is easy to prove this is not the case, not opposing that the government build those hospitals is hardly something that anybody would need to even say.

A few points, usually it takes about 10 years for the Health Department to OK any new drug,

Sorry but that is nonsense, a pharmaceutical patent do not last more than 10 years, and the companies have to patent anything that will be tested extensively (so before beginning clinical trials, and most of the time before even beginning preclinical ones) If approval would take 10 years there would be no point in developing absolutely anything, by the time it can be put on the market anybody could just make a generic and sell it dirt cheap because they would need to invest nothing in research.

The reality is that clinical trials require about a year, with phase III the longest (with about 6 months), any drug that began phase III in July can be ready and approved on January next year, several of the vaccine candidates for covid19 have done just that.

The government didn't want mass testing due to cost but find the money to vaccinate the whole population? 

Why would the government need to think about cost? that is something the pharmaceutical companies invest, it does not cost absolutely nothing to the government to let them do the necessary trials, and the phase III trials are precisely that, testing in literally thousands of volunteers and have them under vigilance for months.

my hesitation is due to as far as I know results haven't been verified completely and the virus has mutated.

That is because the trials have not finished, it is illogical to expect final results when the testing is still ongoing. And the virus mutating is irrelevant. Yellow Fever Virus mutates also constantly since it is an RNA virus, nevertheless the vaccine has been safe and effective for decades without needing any change. Not all mutations means change in antigenicity.

-10 ( +13 / -23 )

Anti-vaxxers are as ignorant as anti-maskers, and a danger.

There is no solid evidence of mask effectiveness.

vaccines are rushed, not fully tested and no legal responsibility.

although these are only the known short term effects, and nobody knows the long term damage, can you imagine 120 people all having headaches? Cold chills? Fatigue?

everybody will be forced back to work totally knackered and a splitting headache.

5 ( +21 / -16 )

@JJ Jetplane

As an American, I am jealous of something like this. I can only shudder when I try to think how much it will cost back home.

It's free for all Americans. https://www.voanews.com/covid-19-pandemic/covid-19-vaccine-be-free-us-official-says

BTW, news is circulating that the coronavirus vaccination will start in late October/early November in the US.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-nw-nyt-covid-19-vaccine-20200902-kb7axfbvdngobjairzpngjs2q4-story.html

CDC tells states to prepare for COVID-19 vaccine by late October or early November

-11 ( +4 / -15 )

Trump fake election vaccine

6 ( +14 / -8 )

There is no solid evidence of mask effectiveness.

There is perfectly good epidemiological evidence for their efficacy.

On the other hand there is absolutely no experimental proof of direct effect on transmission of covid19 from washing hands, does that mean its ok not to do it?

vaccines are rushed, not fully tested and no legal responsibility.

Anything put on the market next year has no reason to be rushed, and companies have a much higher standard of legal responsability, since they will have to defend against a much more powerful adversary than any particular that has no realistic way to prove of causative relationship.

although these are only the known short term effects, and nobody knows the long term damage, can you imagine 120 people all having headaches? Cold chills? Fatigue?

everybody will be forced back to work totally knackered and a splitting headache.

Because you know the long term effects of covid19? with what time machine?

What do you think has more likehood of producing those, a vaccine that exposes the body to one or two proteins at the microgram dose or a viral infection that does the same with a couple of dozens proteins, some made specifically to mess with your immune system, and in doses reaching gram scale (a million times more)?

You can get sick days for pure symptoms in your diagnosis, any supposedly side effects of the vaccine have no reason to be excluded.

-3 ( +16 / -19 )

Haha.

virusrex is getting thumbs down for using rational explanations.

-8 ( +13 / -21 )

As I am old enough to remember the Swine Flu vaccine debacle in the U.S. in 1976 I will wait and see how it goes before I take the vaccine. I am not an "anti vaxxer" but I would like to see how a vaccine is developed and then decide for myself after this rolls out.

0 ( +13 / -13 )

Anti-vaxxers are as ignorant as anti-maskers, and a danger.

Even on JT you're 3 in the hole on that one, PSmith. Heck, even Northernlife's not gonna take it.

13 ( +16 / -3 )

The government aims to have as many people as possible receive the vaccine since the virus is characterized as being very contagious and having a high risk of causing severe symptoms to people infected with it, the sources said.

But the governments approach to testing doesn't support what is written herein.

-9 ( +4 / -13 )

I remember when the polio vaccine came out in the US in 1955. Children were lined up with their parents for blocks, waiting for the shot. I think the shots at that time were also free.

-2 ( +11 / -13 )

Sounds a more substantial offer than the tax payers' money-wasting cheapo Abenomasks, but if it's an offer I can refuse, I'll take a rain check until a few million have been inoculated first with no adverse effects. The frantic quest for a miraculous vaccine seems to reek of a rushed job for political advantage and economic expediency. Caveat emptor!

-6 ( +6 / -12 )

Do anti-maskers and anti-vacciners believe that a little chlorine in the "gene pool" is good for the survival of the swimmers? In Japan and most of the countries in the world there is freedom of choice. Several countries will require lines of people. Get the vaccine asap or just wait. It is okay in a free country like Japan. But, just remember to wear the mask and social distance, please. Thank you.

14 ( +18 / -4 )

But, just remember to wear the mask and social distance, please.

Social distancing is a joke in Japan.

-7 ( +9 / -16 )

Think my family will skip the first year.

-5 ( +9 / -14 )

Malaria kills millions every year despite that there is still no vaccine.

Why are pharmas the world over not developing a vaccine for

malaria neither are governments of the powerful nations and the WHO

pushing for vaccine development, Why ?

If half the effort put by gov'ts and pharma to develop a vaccine

for covid-19 was put in developing a malaria vaccine I am sure one could have

been developed a long time ago. Is the lack of interest due to the fact

that malaria is prevalent mostly in poor third-world countries and the pharmas

don't see reaping a windfall from their investment or there is a sinister plot to

control the explosion of the world population in poor 3rd world countries.

13 ( +20 / -7 )

virusrex: For any vaccine released next year the testing time is enough to do it in a completely normal, non-rushed, routinely way, the same for any other drug and vaccine already available.

It is not nearly enough time. Enough time would be years of trial and there is no way to cram that all into months because the passage of time is literally part of the safety testing. We cannot have people developing ailments months or years after the jab, but its quite possible if a new vaccine is declared safe in just a few months. If any vaccine is so approved it won't be like other drugs or vaccines. It will be UNPRECEDENTED.

17 ( +21 / -4 )

Malaria kills millions every year despite that there is still no vaccine.

Why are pharmas the world over not developing a vaccine for

malaria neither are governments of the powerful nations and the WHO

pushing for vaccine development, Why ?

Go to pubmed and search for "malaria" and "vaccine", you will see literally hundreds of reports about things that have been done and are being done to develop it. You can even just go to wikipedia and get a really good idea about why there is no good vaccine yet.

The amount of resources used for developing a covid19 vaccine is just a drop in the bucked compared with what is being used for malaria. The problem is that parasitical diseases do not respond well to vaccination, as simple as that.

Every year increasingly elaborated and complicated processes are tried so the vaccine actually works this time, they are tried in cell cultures, in animals and even on limited clinical trials, unfortunately with low efficacy or with safety problems. For science this actually helps developing a lot of useful technology but for the specific purpose of preventing malaria controlling the vector is still a much more efficient way to do it.

for Covid019 there is no need to do extraordinarily complicated things, a vaccine can be produced by any of the already developed methods and if it is safe and effective then that is the end of the problem.

 Is the lack of interest due to the fact

that malaria is prevalent mostly in poor third-world countries and the pharmas

don't see reaping a windfall from their investment or there is a sinister plot to

control the explosion of the world population in poor 3rd world countries.

That is nonsense, there are a lot of effective vaccines against diseases mostly present in tropical countries, yellow fever, rotavirus or Japanese encephalitis for example, your confusion comes from thinking every disease can easily be controlled by someone putting on a lab coat and doing experiments for a month. It is not that easy.

Do you know what measure has been proved as very efficient to control the population of a country? increasing the standards of life and the health services so children can become healthy adults without problems, parents that can count on their children surviving don't feel the need to have big families as an insurance for the future.

Nothing sinister about that.

-12 ( +5 / -17 )

Pass!

17 ( +18 / -1 )

I remember when the polio vaccine came out in the US in 1955. Children were lined up with their parents for blocks, waiting for the shot. I think the shots at that time were also free.

And what you don't remember is the 40, 000 infants and children that got very sick, the 51 that got paralyzed or the 5 that died in The Cutter Incident, which was from polio vaccinations in that very year. And the company that made the botched and rushed vaccine got off scot free for what they did, which included ignoring Dr. Bernice E. Eddy's warnings and findings that showed the vaccine was botched.

Why don't you remember this? Oh yeah. No big pharma cash used to spread that news.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernice_Eddy

16 ( +19 / -3 )

The government is ruining my main source of entertainment

Cannot criticize and blame Japan if they start doing the right think to do.

-11 ( +4 / -15 )

Prove 100% it works, it is safe, it does not create problems further down the road, then you could perhaps use it on everyone who wanted it, but forcing something on everyone that is not even proven to work, be safe or effective is criminal, stupid and what you would expect from the loones who sit in governments all around the world.

Only things that enter my body are with my consent !!

18 ( +21 / -3 )

It is not nearly enough time. Enough time would be years of trial and there is no way to cram that all into months because the passage of time is literally part of the safety testing.

No phase III trial ever takes years to complete, not for vaccines nor for other drugs, Phase III is the standard that any new pharmacological company has to do to be able to put something on the market.

Phase IV is the one that takes years, but apparently you ignore that it begins AFTER the product is in already in use by the general population. There is absolutely no need to cram this into months because for everything else this is is done after the product is in the market. 6 months is a perfectly acceptable amount of time and what is used for lots of things that are right now available.

If any vaccine is so approved it won't be like other drugs or vaccines. It will be UNPRECEDENTED.

What would be unprecedent and irrational to expect a special case for this vaccine just because, specially because the disease itself has not been studied for long term complications. It is thousands of times more likely that the natural infection give problems a few years in the future than the vaccine.

Of course you could easily produce a source that prove that phase III are impossible to finish inside a year, but that would require that to be true, fortunately that is not the case, you are just mistaken. Ignorance is a terribly thing to base your opinion.

And what you don't remember is the 40, 000 infants and children that got very sick, the 51 that got paralyzed or the 5 that died in The Cutter Incident, which was from polio vaccinations in that very year.

Because the exception to the rule that vaccines can be safe and effective somehow proves that any new vaccine will inevitably be also another one? that is nonsense. Specially because your example is the basis for very stringent protocols for the testing of vaccines.

A much more useful explanation https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1383764/

-10 ( +8 / -18 )

Rushing ifor vaccine or treatment of anykind is an accident waiting to happen and science with negative results. I wait a few years and see the aftereffects before thinking of getting this.

17 ( +19 / -2 )

Agree with most other posters, you'd have to be truly foolish to accept a COVID19 "vaccine" at this stage. The sheep will jump up and down and beg for this poison though

14 ( +17 / -3 )

Yes. It will be unprecedented. But the real reason they can develop vaccines much faster is because of other factors such as funding, technology and the ability to test the vaccine easily because the virus is rampant in some countries. Yes. The first people who get it (doctors, etc.,) will be taking it before the normal completion of stage 3 trials. Yes. There will be a very slight risk. But, by that time the relevant authorities will have enough data to know with high enough confidence the efficacy and safety of the vaccine. In this situation, it should not take months for bureaucratic decisions to be made because doctors, elderly etc, will die. That's why they will release it to select few. The average person will not get the vaccine for some time after, and by that time all results will be very clear on safety. By that time, if you still think side effects are worse than the virus, think again.

-15 ( +1 / -16 )

This would be a most sensible policy once the vaccine in proven and ready for distribution.

-11 ( +5 / -16 )

I fear they will force this on us by denying access to the marketplace, travel, or even the ability to work unless we take their poison. People are going to have to make some hard choices in the months ahead.

14 ( +17 / -3 )

Virusrex, why don't you just come out and admit you're paid either directly or indirectly by a member of the pharmaceutical industry to come on this forum for the specific purposes of convincing people to take a COVID-19 vaccine and discredit anyone who's suspicious of the push for mass vaccination or questions the safety and efficacy of forthcoming COVID-19 vaccinations, or points out some of the fines imposed on pharmaceutical companies for faulty products and deceptive business practices?

Basically? because it is not true, my interest is in correcting false, mistaken, incorrect information that some people like to repeat for who knows what purposes. 

Why would I try to use logic on antivaxxers that are actually proud of being anti-scientific, anti-reason and anti-logic? I do not intend to convince anybody about anything. But I am still free to correct mistakes and lies, specially when involving public health, where they can mislead people into irrational choices because of imaginary fears.

I do not discredit anybody, if they do it themselves by endlessly using information that can be proven false I cannot be held responsible. I mean, questioning is not wrong, but deciding right now that there can be only bad vaccines no matter what because of reasons that are not even real is simply mistaken. It is in the best interest of whoever reads this to point out the mistakes, even if that makes the people repeating those mistakes seem always wrong. 

I have never said that vaccines are perfect and never ever they had any trouble, my point is that those are the exceptions and not the rule (and specially not the absolute rule). I actually made also my point that bad actors do have liability and can be punished by doing unacceptable things contrary to what some posters thought just because a particular cannot sue them.

It's clear that you only ever post on topics related to pharmaceuticals and have no interest in anything else on this site.

I only correct people on what I know about, it is not my fault that it became very common for people to repeat mistakes and lies about the pandemic, masks, vaccines etc. If I do not correct people on sports or cooking has no importance because not a single thing I write depends on people having to trust me. I could be a victim suffering paralysis from a vaccine or the president of a vaccine company and nothing in my replies would become less valid. Antivaxxers like too much to use ad hominems when they are proved wrong and cannot defend their mistakes, I prefer to disprove bad arguments no matter who use them. If you think anything I wrote is false you are free to prove it so, or you can just write imaginary things about me for no real benefit, it is your choice.

If you like to repeat mistakes because you have strong opinions about something you ignore completely it is also your right, I prefer to base my opinions on knowledge.

-11 ( +9 / -20 )

I'm all for vaccinations and all the medications and that razz! But this is getting out of hand. If they have the vaccine to give out free to all people, then why are they still reporting that so many people are still getting it and dying from it? This shows that Japan is putting the horse UNDER the carriage! They're not sure of what they're doing, so I don't even know what they'd be injecting me with! So to that, good people, I'd say no thank you.

10 ( +13 / -3 )

@kyronstavic Thank you. Your post should be a sticky on every virus related post commented on by the usual suspects.

14 ( +16 / -2 )

And I certainly don't trust this government to make a decision with populations health having anything to do with their decision making process. 

While the reasons may not be altruistic, the government has a strong incentive to ensure the health of the population.

Sick citizens means less working tax payers, more burden on the healthcare system, more handouts, less economic activity, etc.

-14 ( +1 / -15 )

Considering? It should be free and mandatory!

-16 ( +2 / -18 )

Reading the comments above we are witnessing a real time Darwinian event. Pro-vaccination people and the anti-vaxers will both be nodding at this statement at the same time.

Psychology will explain later. Quite remarkable really.

-12 ( +2 / -14 )

@sir_bentley28: Exactly! How is there even a single new COVID case in Japan when they already have the vaccine? Silliness beyond words.. Like you said Japan has no clue what they're doing and those here most willing to take a vaccine are the most devoted Japan and Abe supporters lol. smh

13 ( +15 / -2 )

What vaccine???? The one in the future (maybe), that has been created, trialed and... well, you get the picture. There is NO long term effective vaccine against ANY corona virus.

18 ( +18 / -0 )

Its simple really, why would I want to rush to inject my kids with a poorly tested vaccine WHEN THEY HAVE A 0% chance of dying or becoming seriously ill.

16 ( +16 / -0 )

Hilarious - I won't be bothering with a shot UNLESS it is free. simple as

-17 ( +0 / -17 )

It doesn't seem plausible that it could be confirmed safe to mix with other vaccines that are changed yearly. Could you imagine taking the flu vaccine and the covid19 vaccine? It's kind of like a leaky vaccine speedball.

12 ( +14 / -2 )

Good. All vaccinations should be free to residents of any country.

-4 ( +10 / -14 )

Either you like this news story or not. I say good on Japan!

Come November, a vaccine will come and be ready for distribution according to CDC. Then the vaccine will only get better as data comes in as we go into 2021. This will end at some point COVID-19 and it will be brought under control.

Will the vaccine work? Or the various vaccines work? Maybe it will, Maybe it won't.

Its bio warfare. Doing nothing about it and not trying these potential vaccines will cost more loss of life.

For me its an acceptable plan rather then doing nothing and waiting for heard immunity to take place. I've lost two people dear to me because of this Chinese engineered virus. I would volunteer to try the vaccine.

Total in Japan cases 69,001 +609 Recovered 58,428 Deaths 1,307+11 as of today in Japan.

Japan is doing something right. I have confidence in Japanese hospitals and Japanese Doctors.

Especially the Uni hospitals in this county. More so over than my own country.

-14 ( +4 / -18 )

Anti-vaxxers are as ignorant as anti-maskers, and a danger.

Agreed. Anti-vaxxers get thousands killed every year by not getting flu-shots.

-9 ( +7 / -16 )

This case is highly contentious because of the scare campaign going on, the rush to bring vaccines to market much faster than ever before, the lack of evidence that COVID-19 is any more dangerous than the flu for the vast majority of people, and the ridiculous limits that have been placed on our civil liberties, rights tot associate freely and freedom of movement that are way out of proportionate the threat

You are obviously confused. COVID19 is as dangerous if not more as the flue is. That is how you should see things. The limits placed are there for a reason. To have the hospitals running and keep the economy running.

The vaccines will not be mandatory. You are welcome to have your chances with the virus itself.

The problem though is you really should stop posting things like "faulty products" and "bad practices" without knowing virtually none of the details involved. You might actually prevent someone taking a medication without even consulting a doctor.

-13 ( +2 / -15 )

The content on your link doesn't contradict @virusrex.

Except it does and virusrex pretty much admitted it. He literally said no phase III testing takes years, as in none. Zip. Zero. And I showed a link that says that in fact, plenty do.

Of course that is not directly on point that some do only take 6 months as he says, but, who here is going to be satisfied that in this rush to get a corona vaccine, an effort which has failed for decades, that 6 months is enough time and jab their kids with it? If the Cutter Incident does not give one pause to reflect on what can happen when a vaccine goes from phase III to mass use in about one year, nothing will. Doctors, scientists and corporations screw up on their own. They screw up more when working together to get new products mass produced for the first time. Its an old, well known, obvious pattern. Anyone ignoring it is a fool. Anyone convincing us to ignore it is on the take, a troll or again, a fool.

12 ( +16 / -4 )

But you have to go through HELL to claim harm from a vaccine. In the end it will all be an incredible amount of wasted time and energy, you'll be subject to heavy character assassination / accused of child abuse & negligence, loss of income due to time away from work. Even if you win you won't be able to get your child back once they've been injured.

Can you blame them ? I wouldn't let you anywhere near children. If you still haven't vaccinated your children go see a doctor / psychiatrist and at least talk about the subject.

-16 ( +3 / -19 )

All kids with the exception of very few are routinely and regularly getting shots of all sorts of vaccines.

If vaccines are really what they claim it to be surely the antivaxxers can present abundant evidence of its ill effects, no need to make something up

-13 ( +4 / -17 )

Immunological and serological studies show that most people develop no symptoms or only mild symptoms when infected with the new coronavirus, while some people may experience a more pronounced or critical course of the disease. Note: Patients are asked to consult a doctor.

https://swprs.org/on-the-treatment-of-covid-19/

13 ( +15 / -2 )

Naw, I’ll pass for now.

15 ( +17 / -2 )

First half of 2021...just in time to declare Japan is " safe " to host the Olympics. Such an amazing coincidence.....but surely that played no role in Abe govt rush to purchase and make plans to distribute a totally unproven , non existent vaccicne and exempt its maker from liability.

Exactly! Anyone with critical thinking knows that vaccines don't work and this is all a political stunt by Abe to promote the Olympics. Thankfully the world isn't silly enough to actually believe the J government propaganda about these non-existent vaccines and pseudo-science.

11 ( +14 / -3 )

Dear Antivaxxers ,

Lucky for your C19 isn't ebola. If it were you would have begged for the kind of response we have seen these last 8 months from science and big pharma.

Yes it is about choice. Informed choice based on science.

-15 ( +2 / -17 )

Whether it is a choice... or the science...or the aftereffects... isn't assuring to know that the community you belong, and the people you are with... have all been vaccinated?

Isn't the very daunting effort to develop this vaccine... all for the common good...and not purely for profit and/or the benefit of big pharma?

I would not even want to get 6ft-near someone (masked or not) who has not been vaccinated. Just pure selfishness to even think of opting out.

Otherwise, please put a sign out... on yourself... front and back.... to let other people know you have declined getting the vaccine.

Just saying.

-15 ( +2 / -17 )

Just because it's free doesn't mean you should put it in your body.

Dont let the bullies force you to take this like they force you to wear a mask.

14 ( +17 / -3 )

I am very hesitant to be given this vaccine.

Reason 1: This virus is mutating very quickly, therefore by the time vaccine is created then made in large quantity and then distributed to clinics and hospitals, it would have mutated to a point that the vaccine is ineffective, but you still run all the risks of side effects.

Reason 2: People who have allergies. Has it been tested enough so that it can be said that it is safe to take and will not cause a anaphylactic shock?

Reason 3: They are rushing this vaccine, no one knows what side effects it will have, and what percentage will be severely affected. Like Russia, entire population are guinea pigs.

13 ( +16 / -3 )

Should we not?

-12 ( +0 / -12 )

We certainly should not be accepting a rushed dodgy vaccine!!

-8 ( +5 / -13 )

Does anyone remember the new influenza drug called Tamiflu a few years ago? Some kids started hallucinating and attempted to jumped out of the window? Obviously they didn't do enough testing with that either before they started giving it to everyone...

13 ( +15 / -2 )

I hear a lot of people abroad and here in japan saying they won’t take it. What happens if they decide to chip your health card for those who have received and deny access to places such as airports, hotels, amusement parks, restaurants, concert events etc?would you still say no to the vaccine?

-12 ( +2 / -14 )

I hear a lot of people abroad and here in japan saying they won’t take it. What happens if they decide to chip your health card for those who have received and deny access to places such as airports, hotels, amusement parks, restaurants, concert events etc?would you still say no to the vaccine?

I would and will say no to this vaccine. But then again I can live quite happily without all those conveniences and attractions you listed. Others will no doubt crumble if threatened with the denial of access to such privileges.

10 ( +13 / -3 )

Good thing. I like the government's thinking on this. I'm all for it. Glad to know I'm not living in an unfeeling capitalist society.

-7 ( +3 / -10 )

@Paul

I am very hesitant to be given this vaccine.

The virus has not mutated enought during this whole year to make serum therapy ineffective. That means a vaccine would at least last as long if not for life. Anaphylactic shock is a risk that people with allergies will always have, testing the vaccine endlessly would not reduce it, you have to see a doctor to get vaccinated for this reason, he is the one that decides if you can be vaccinated or not if you have allergies.

-7 ( +3 / -10 )

Government is not just covering the cost of getting the vaccine, they will also cover liability risks, will compensate for health problems that may arise by getting it

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

why article did not mentioned Russia as first country in world with official vaccine against covid.

Excellent point ! They are starting in October correct ?

I meant think about it ... what if a virus is a weapon ? Say what you will but I really think Russia's response to the pandemic is actually very close to perfect ! Bravo !

-7 ( +3 / -10 )

A government panel of health experts, however, has indicated the difficulty of developing an effective vaccine.

-9 ( +1 / -10 )

The virus has not mutated enought during this whole year to make serum therapy ineffective. That means a vaccine would at least last as long if not for life. Anaphylactic shock is a risk that people with allergies will always have, testing the vaccine endlessly would not reduce it, you have to see a doctor to get vaccinated for this reason, he is the one that decides if you can be vaccinated or not if you have allergies.

Yes, that is correct, thinking that the vaccine is useless just because the virus mutates is a mistake born from not knowing even basic biology. Many vaccines against RNA viruses confer protection for long time. It is important to make this clear and not let people get the wrong idea.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Yes it is about choice. Informed choice based on science

Yes, that is why I am opting out.

Considering Covid19 is nowhere near as dangerous as initially thought, it would be crazy to take a vaccine that hasn't gone through the usual testing.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Considering Covid19 is nowhere near as dangerous as initially thought, it would be crazy to take a vaccine that hasn't gone through the usual testing.

That is not a worry for a vaccine released next year, which are the ones that Japan is making dealings to acquire, 6 months of phase III is perfectly usual.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Anti-vaxxes out in force on the down votes, you also think the world is flat?

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Considering Covid19 is nowhere near as dangerous as initially thought, it would be crazy to take a vaccine that hasn't gone through the usual testing.

Why can't you change "considering" into something less ambiguous like "I think" or some other reason real or fiction. That way is easy we can just vote down. This way unless replied it stays there like it is the god given truth. Why ? Why do have to do this.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I am not an anti-vaxer. Every year I take the latest flu shot, and I have taken every shot my doctor has ever recommended. Like a lot of others when I was in the military I was administered vaccines for diseases that are very rare, and which the public almost never takes. That said, I am suspicious of anything being pushed by a CDC controlled by Trump's idiots, rather than by scientists. If Trump pushes a vaccine for release in two months, I am very tempted to wait and see if there are any negative effects.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Does anyone remember the new influenza drug called Tamiflu a few years ago? Some kids started hallucinating and attempted to jumped out of the window? Obviously they didn't do enough testing with that either before they started giving it to everyone..

Yes some children who have caught influenza appeared to have hallucinations after taking tamiflu. It could have been the medicine but it could also have been the virus or some other context related. It is yet to be seen.

Yes if the virus c19 or flue finds it's way into the brain you can expect behavioral changes perhaps even death; and another reason why I think our chances for immunity with a Phase 3 passed vaccine are actually much better compared to immunity obtained via infection with the actual virus.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

That said, I am suspicious of anything being pushed by a CDC controlled by Trump's idiots, rather than by scientists.

The CDC is not controlled by idiots it is controlled by scientists. This is a public knowledge and fact.

https://www.cdc.gov/about/leadership.htm

> If Trump pushes a vaccine for release in two months, I am very tempted to wait and see if there are any negative effects.

I don't think Trumps cares that much. But if it makes you feel better to wait for negative effects that is fine too.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Maybe the best evidence against antivaxxer claims would be you, the antivaxxers yourselves.

Unless you were children of antivaxxers also, chances are all of you underwent the regular recommended barrage of vaccines when you were kids.

Are all or most or even a few of you suffering from some kind of disability now as a result of said vaccines?

Im quite sure there were none or you would have posted about it already.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

I am perplexed when the Japanese ethics in high places, with regard to vaccines, in view of past phytosanitary and industrial scandals, having affected thousands of people (many countries), not to mention the race for the vaccine which will generate interest in the billions. Did we already forgot the nuclear plants btw..In another article, I read that a Japanese group wants to buy (already, wow, in this case they can act quick) the manufacturer Aztrazeneca .., not to mention the current hysteria for stock market investments for pharmaceutical companies (especially in Europe) .. kinda "deja-vu"..again a bubble that will make others left behind. 99% of the mass media (guess who owns and control them) do not talk about the countries which have used chloroquine for decades (largely proven after the war), and which have come out the best, and for cheap, as if by chance, it can be understood , given the millions received by the .. lobbyists of .. pharmaceutical cartels .. whose shareholders are shareholders of these .. media lol.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Just pure selfishness to even think of opting out.

Arguably a good point too. Just a gut feeling but If the vaccines were rolled out in Africa and India first I think half of the "no thank you" posters here would be OK. The other half I don't know maybe then they will not trust those reports , because big pharma this and that.

Just out of curiosity , at what point you would consider having the vaccines ? What kind of information comming from whom would make you change your mind ? How would you verify ? Who will you trust ? Who needs to produce it ? What makes you think that the manufacturing won't fail 3 years later because of a simple human error ? What makes you think the medicine you are currently taking is OK ?

Anyone please give a scenario where you find western medicine OK and useful

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Considering Covid19 is nowhere near as dangerous as initially thought, it would be crazy to take a vaccine that hasn't gone through the usual testing.

Why can't you change "considering" into something less ambiguous like "I think" or some other reason real or fiction.

I use "think" when I am referring to my own personal opinion. But in this case I am referring to a well established fact, that Covid19 is nowhere near as dangerous as initially thought. Neowave's posts made this very clear, but unfortunately those posts were deleted. And considering this fact...

Anyone who has no serious immune issues has no valid reason to worry about Covid19, and has no reason to risk their health on poorly tested vaccines...

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Please consider international frameworks other than anything co-led by the WHO particularly if you are concerned about the entire population of a nation.

Good ears will perk at talk of effective vaccines.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I use "think" when I am referring to my own personal opinion. But in this case I am referring to a well established fact, that Covid19 is nowhere near as dangerous as initially thought. Neowave's posts made this very clear, but unfortunately those posts were deleted. And considering this fact...

But it is not well established fact neither the vaccines are poorly tested.

It is quite dangerous. It cost lives around the world. It crushed almost every first world country economy.

The vaccines are tested to reasonable level. Expecting perfect is crazy. Fine tell me have you ever been vaccinated ? Are you ever planing to get vaccinated ? And Why ? What makes a vaccine thoroughly tested for you ?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

n1k1Today 10:42 pm JST

I use "think" when I am referring to my own personal opinion. But in this case I am referring to a well established fact, that Covid19 is nowhere near as dangerous as initially thought. Neowave's posts made this very clear, but unfortunately those posts were deleted. And considering this fact...

But it is not well established fact neither the vaccines are poorly tested.

It is quite dangerous. It cost lives around the world. It crushed almost every first world country economy.

The danger was that stupid govts led by idiot leaders panicked and created mass hysteria and they shut down most business which screwed most economis, the virus itself is no where near as damaging as the stupidity of the reactions to it by the govts who locked down 90% of its citizens, more people died from stress related problems, suicides, heart attacks and other problems than died from this scamdemic itself. The virus is not as dangerous as the over reaction to it and the resulting carnage left in its wake.

Simple precautions , common sense, hygiene and awareness are your greatest tools in combatting the virus, not closing down the economy and throwing many into economic and financil turmoil and making them unemployed damaging the economic future of the country for generations to come, its crazy over the top behavour.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

The danger was that stupid govts led by idiot leaders panicked and created mass hysteria and they shut down most business which screwed most economis, the virus itself is no where near as damaging as the stupidity of the reactions to it by the govts who locked down 90% of its citizens, more people died from stress related problems, suicides, heart attacks and other problems than died from this scamdemic itself. The virus is not as dangerous as the over reaction to it and the resulting carnage left in its wake.

When you see diggers loading carcasses in trucks, when you see people on youtube crying why there isn't anyone helping burry his dead sister , government or not you panic. Not really idiotic in my eyes.

Simple precautions , common sense, hygiene and awareness are your greatest tools in combatting the virus, not closing down the economy and throwing many into economic and financil turmoil and making them unemployed damaging the economic future of the country for generations to come, its crazy over the top behavour

Or a vaccine and experience of unprecedented significance for our children battling the next pandemic that might just not be as mild or god forbid even man made.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Prove 100% it works, it is safe, it does not create problems further down the road, then you could perhaps use it on everyone who wanted it, but forcing something on everyone that is not even proven to work, be safe or effective is criminal, stupid and what you would expect from the loones who sit in governments all around the world.

Only things that enter my body are with my consent !!

First of all nothing works 100%. Nothing is 100% safe either. And by nothing I mean even medication approved decades ago and even medication that worked for you personally 10 years ago.

No one in their sane mind can predict that at a given moment in time a medication will not create or trigger problems down the road for each an everyone.

No one is nor will be forcing anything. I am almost certain.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

For vaccines, the probability of success ranges from 7% for non-industry-sponsored candidates to 40% for industry-sponsored candidates. Latter source : wikipedia

1 ( +2 / -1 )

GoodlucktoyouSep. 3  08:37 am JST Anti-vaxxers are as ignorant as anti-maskers, and a danger.

There is no solid evidence of mask effectiveness.

Yes. That's why no one wears one during invasive surgical procedures.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

No thanks. I do not want an insufficiently tested vaccine for a disease that has a 0.1% mortality rate overall (probably a 1% rate in my age group, but so what). Plus, as we learn more about the condition every day, better treatments are coming out all the time.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Somebody's paying...the buddies of oyajis.

Sure you won't have the choice in the type of vaccine as it will be the one sponsored by them through brown enveloppes.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Anyone who has no serious immune issues has no valid reason to worry about Covid19, and has no reason to risk their health on poorly tested vaccines...

That is of course assuming no long term effect of the infection is found in the years to come, something that is not a certainty.

The solution again would be not to risk anything with a vaccine properly tested, which includes all the ones that Japan has shown interest in procuring.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Japan considers offering COVID-19 vaccines for free to all residents..., Abe says all citizens

Anybody see a problem with that?

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

Nah we good, brah! Whatever they're injecting people with they have not proven that it actually works with astounding results (recovery). Usually in the field of science, if they're offering a vaccine for free, its usually still in the trial phase. So they use the term "free" to attract "experimental subjects" when they want to move on from experimenting on animals to humans.

Don't be sheep!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

We still don't have a vaccine for the 1st SARS virus back in 2003 (17 years now).

There are literally dozens of vaccines against SARS, all giving excellent results in preclinical trials, the only reason none advanced to human clinical trials is because there is no economic nor ethical justification to test a vaccine for a disease that have not a single patient per year.

They did animal testing with ferrets that showed a great immune response producing antibodies (which would have been FDA approved and good to go). But when they were exposed to the live SARS virus they overreacted with high inflammation, organ failure and died. 

And in other trials with ferrets, mice, rats, etc. No such thing happened, this is common for any kind of drug, having one failed candidate and 100 successful ones. This is just a bad misrepresentation.

Now we are skipping animal testing and going straight to 'healthy' human trials.

No, of course not, all vaccines candidates already finished the preclinical trials, which is precisely animal experimentation. From where can anybody get that false idea?

FDA is even willing to approve at 30% 'effectiveness'. I have a feeling those Japanese health experts will take a hard look at the data first and reactions in other countries before making it FREE for you and your kids.

As long as something is safe and effective it can always be approved, if other vaccines that have higher efficacy appear the ones with less value will stop being sold and produced.

Any country can wait for as much as they want, but it is not rational to spend a few more years waiting for a phase IV to finish, only to find out the natural infection has more side effects on a long term while the economy of that single country that waits without reason goes down.

'Vaccine expert' Bill Gates (BFF with Dr. Anthony Fauci) says "NONE of the vaccines at this point appear like they'll work with a single dose". So are we ready at least 2 or more injections per year? (they believe that the antibodies wear off so it will now be an annual vaccination)

Yes, the same as many other vaccines, that have some usefulness with a single dose, but are much better with two doses, and no, antibodies are just one single part of the immune system, recent articles have proved that memory cells are able to mediate long lasting immunity, those same cells have been stimulated with vaccine candidates so there is no reason to expect a yearly vaccine (and specially not one with two boost for year, that is nonsense)

The current US population is about 330 million so 500 million - 330 million leaves 170 million for newborns, travelers, immigrants, etc. It'll be $$ red panty night $$ for Moderna for sure.

Shame on people that get profits from saving lives and economies, if people could just make money by spreading fear like antivaxxers do, right?

Fluzone influenza vaccine has an accepted "FDA approved" death rate of 0.6% (page 11 of package insert that very few people read before injecting - I am guilty of that):

Did you forget to mention that this vaccine is used for people at advanced age? and that this death rate is on the same level from people without any vaccination?

You know this vaccine is not made to protect them from all the other conditions that they have right? why did you expect them to die less than non-vaccinated people? They do die less from influenza of course.

 when you start digging into the data surrounding SARS COVID-19 you will see that we do not need to live in FEAR: https://swprs.org/facts-about-covid-19/ 

Sorry but your source of information has been characterized as a conspiracy theorist source, with many falsehoods and mistaken information

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_Propaganda_Research

It has been proved repeatedly to promote false information regarding many kinds of topics, it is not a source that can be trusted.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

There WILL NOT BE a vaccine! Was there one for Zika? Was there one for SARS? Was there one for Ebola? No, no, and no. Vaccines are pieces of Big Pharma PRODUCT.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

antibodies are just one single part of the immune system, recent articles have proved that memory cells are able to mediate long lasting immunity,

ABSOLUTELY CORRECT and 18,664,286 have recovered from COVID-19 WITHOUT a vaccine. Because they can produce antibodies themselves naturally. Memory cells can and are able to produce long lasting immunity EVEN when the antibody count drops BUT mainstream media once again will have you believe that IS NOT THE CASE so you will need to be injected as antibody count drops 3-4 months later.

Did you forget to mention that this vaccine is used for people at advanced age? and that this death rate is on the same level from people without any vaccination?

Especially for people at that advanced age (seniors) to whom Fluzone is heavily marketed to.

Shame on people that get profits from saving lives and economies, if people could just make money by spreading fear like antivaxxers do, right?

Not so sure about the saving lives and economies though. Maybe better peace of mind.

https://childrenshealthdefense.org/news/the-impact-of-vaccines-on-mortality-decline-since-1900-according-to-published-science/

They cite all their sources but I'm sure you will continue to character assassinate people in their organization.

Some vaccines have some effectiveness while others do not. Every vaccine is different. Some have live viruses while others do not. Some use chicken, insect, cow cells to grow the viruses while others may use aborted fetal tissue.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/27/health/chicken-egg-flu-vaccine-intl-hnk-scli/index.html

I make no money in having these discussions nor will I ever. Just see SO MUCH CENSORSHIP and CONTROL of the NARRATIVE BY BIG PHARMA & their DRUG / VACCINE COMPANIES which you believe can do no wrong, are absolute angels of society and do no harm to anyone. You did mention however there are risks involved but downplay them as if they are minimal.

Vaccines in the US are liability free for the companies since 1986. You cannot sue them for injuries to you or your family. Instead the US government pays out in vaccine court leaving the Vaccine producer whole. WIN-WIN for the vaccine company.

H.R.5546 - National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986

https://www.congress.gov/bill/99th-congress/house-bill/5546

NVIC's co-founders worked with Congress on the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, which acknowledged that vaccine injuries and deaths are real and that the vaccine injured and their families should be financially supported and that vaccine safety protections were needed in the mass vaccination system. 

COVID-19 Symptoms across the population:

"About 80% of all people develop only mild symptoms or no symptoms. Even among 70-79 year olds, about 60% develop only mild symptoms. About 95% of all people develop at most moderate symptoms and do not require hospitalization." https://swprs.org/studies-on-covid-19-lethality/#hospitalizations

Sorry but your source of information has been characterized as a conspiracy theorist source, with many falsehoods and mistaken information

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_Propaganda_Research

It has been proved repeatedly to promote false information regarding many kinds of topics, it is not a source that can be trusted.

They cite CDC data. Are you saying that CDC data is incorrect? How about ny.gov or nyc.gov? They've cited their data as well. State provided data is false?

Also sorry but Wikipedia? It is now strictly controlled by special interests to maintain the mainstream narrative. Especially for anyone that speaks out against "Big Pharma can do no wrong" narrative.

https://sharylattkisson.com/2019/05/wikipedia-is-broken-controlled-by-special-interests-and-bad-actors-says-co-founder/

0 ( +1 / -1 )

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