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Half of Japan's population has received at least 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine

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One way to approach this could be deciding if you're someone at high risk of getting very sick or dying from COVID-19 or if someone in your family is. It begs the immunity question: How fast does it work? How quickly the vaccines’ protection kicks in and how long it lasts are still being worked out. No long-term data is available because none of the vaccines are more than a year old.

The vaccines don't give immediate protection because there are biological limitations at work.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Ulysses

I am saying be prepared for side effects-that is all.

I’m not going to be drawn into a debate about having the vaccine or not having the vaccine.

Nor do I wish to comment on people that have died from the virus or not.

fin

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It is strange you blame it on vaccine and do not bother to mention WHY your student was hospitalized, with which symptoms.

Fyi, it takes minimum 2 weeks - ideally 3 weeks - for first vaccine to work as protection from COVID and (in case protection is breached) from most acute symptoms of COVID.

danAug. 19  08:47 am JST

My student was hospitalised for a week after her first Moderna dose..It weakened her immune system and made her seriously ill.

vaccine no thanks!!

I have two friends who both lost their mothers in a matter of a week - who were unvaccinated. At the same time at least 10 people I know who got vaccinated early on and had to continue working to exposure to COVID infections did not get sick. One out of 10 tested positively for COVID but did not develop any symptoms and is teleworking now.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

My take is this. Vaccination will mean that most will likely contract COVID at some point, but suffer mild symptoms as opposed to being very sick, and at an outside chance, die. Once we reach a critical mass of vaccinations, countries will slowly start to open up to selective places with similar rates of vaccination, restrictions ease, and then the virus just becomes something we learn to live with as it spreads completely through communities.

More effective vaccinations will be developed to combat virus variants and we will have those at regular intervals, if and when required.

Incidentally, received my first Pfizer yesterday. It was actually impressive to see industrial scale, mass mobilisation of people in a concerted movement for the common good. It felt historic - the kid of thing my great grandkids will watch YouTube videos on in Social Studies classes.

It also struck me, for the briefest time whilst I sat astride a white plastic waiting chair and watched the spectacle unfold around me, that anti vaxxers might really just be afraid of needles.....

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Remember the quote: "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics."... be careful when interpreting numbers being thrown at you.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

People should act cautiously, and maintain Social distancing, wear face masks, and adhere to basic hygiene - such as washing hands regularly. And do so, regardless whether you're triple jab'd or not.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Strangerland

An unvaccinated person doesn't 'carry' Delta, they GET Delta. But the very rapid spread of Delta can only be so accelerated by a large number of asymptomatic 'carriers' which is what we are seeing, and the so-called 'breakthrough' cases where the vaccine is clearly inadequate are just the tip of the iceberg. Unless you would care to insist that all 'breakthrough' cases represent only vaccinated people who have come in contact with Delta but are not carriers which would give a 100% vaccine inadequacy. But unvaccinated people who are not sick are CLEAN by reason of no illness. If you check, you will discover that the various Authorities have confirmed that Delta is carried by vaccinated people and this is why indoor mask requirements are being re-instituted in most sane communities regardless of vaccine status. This is not to attack or defend any position but just to point out that, at this point, ANYONE who does not take precaution to avoid infecting others is a perpetrator and anyone who is unvaccinated (or vaccinated?) their potential victim. Regarding the ICU issue, simply an inadequate system not geared to flexible response protocols (see: Corporate profit). COVID might be called a 'chronic' emergency. What do we do in an acute emergency with mass casualties, say a large scale poison gas attack, requiring ICUs and no way to quickly expand capacity because resources have gone to profit? History will record the backward conservative politicians who decry masks as "Kings of COVID". THEY and their followers are the greatest danger to everyone., vaccinated or not.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Why doesn't the headline say

Half of Japan's population has NOT received at least 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Am I a pessimist? Maybe just a realist comparing Japan with other countries.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

And, if 'smart', you will also know that 'unvaccinated' people are in greatest danger from vaccinated people who don't wear masks but are very likely carriers of Delta...

Interesting choice of the word "likely". It doesn't show much in the way of logic. What makes unvaccinated non-mask wearers likely carriers of delta? Only a tiny percentage of the population has Delta, and a fairly large number have been vaccinated. If it's "likely" that they've got covid, it would have to mean that more than half are carrying. Which as I said, use a bit of logic...

And besides that, how are they at greater risk than from unvaccinated people not wearing masks and carrying Delta? You have claimed their the "greatest" danger. What makes them more of a danger than an unvaccinated person carrying delta and not wearing a mask?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

And, if 'smart', you will also know that 'unvaccinated' people are in greatest danger from vaccinated people who don't wear masks but are very likely carriers of Delta...

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

And thank you. I am kinda smart...I just don't like to brag.

well if your kind of smart then youll know that getting covid unvaccinated increases your chance of being hospitalized dramatically compared to vaccinated. just today J gov stated that 16/17 people in ICU are unvaccinated

this in turn overloads the healthcare system so ordinary people cant get into hospital for other emergencies. happening in japan US many other countries that are see a surge and havent contained the spread

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Good to know. I wonder when I get vaccinated. I'm in the other half of population no vaccine yet. Love the talk about 3rd dose next year. Wonder when 1st will come.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Compared to Japan, Gibraltar has higher vaccination rate (85% in total population of 32,000, and 98% in 60+ population, as of April 8). The Active Case number (cf. worldometer) on Jun 1 was 9, and it peaked on Jul 30 with 386 cases. So, these data show, sadly, that vaccine is no magic bullet.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Once the Japanese can decide to do something they can get moving fairly quickly. Deciding to do something on the other hand….

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I’ve felt a bit tired, other than that no effects from the Pfizer 2nd dose.

The soreness in the arm is much less compared to yesterday.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

There are side effects from these vaccines.

Those I experienced took months to eventually fade.

When did you take the vaccine and which one did you take?

There are side effects to COVID-19 too, it’s death in many cases!

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Spectacularly false.

Totally true, don’t spread disinformation!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

My whole family here in Japan as well as my parents-in-law have all been double vaccinated. The vaccines are available to any who want to get them. 500,000 people are getting jabbed every day, 3 million a week. Japan is on target for herd immunity this Fall.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

There are side effects from these vaccines.

Those I experienced took months to eventually fade.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

But fact is the Delta strain affects the young too and a lot of otherwise healthy people have died.

Spectacularly false.

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

I got my second moderna shot on Monday.

I'm fine now but had a good 30 hours of fever.

Was a tough ride but worth it.

Maybe now I can get to visit my Dad's grave as he passed away last November.

Be prepared for the second shot.

I breezed the first one no trouble

2 ( +2 / -0 )

these "strong young men" are the dream examples of those with very questionable anecdotes.

They almost always turn out to be lies. 

The chances for a "strong young man" dying from Covid are almost non existent.

If you close your eyes and ears, then everything you don’t want to hear is a lie, Ignorance just makes you ignorant!!!

But fact is the Delta strain affects the young too and a lot of otherwise healthy people have died.

If 50% of the population have had one shot, then they should be fully vaccinated in 3 weeks and that is good news.

I got my 2nd shot yesterday, except for a slightly sore upper arm, have no side effects.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Awesome! Lets get this to 100% rate!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

@Antiqeusaving

these "strong young men" are the dream examples of those with very questionable anecdotes.

They almost always turn out to be lies.

The chances for a "strong young man" dying from Covid are almost non existent.

Once again, avg age of a covid death is around 80 with 2 or more co-morbidities.

And thank you. I am kinda smart...I just don't like to brag.

-9 ( +2 / -11 )

bobToday  05:28 pm JST

How many people do you know have had it?

How many died?

I know quite a few some still in hospital.

And as for died!

I lost 3 family members back home they still haven't had funerals do to covid restrictions.

I also know the 27 year old son of my good friend and former paramedic partner who died from covid he was a strong young man a first responders paramedic like his father.

So now say something smart!

8 ( +9 / -1 )

I had side effects for about 10 hours but I'd rather have that than covid. Everyone I know who has had covid in absolutely no way recommends taking the chance of getting it.

How many people do you know have had it?

How many died?

-9 ( +0 / -9 )

Next month, that's herd immunity for the adults.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

kohakuebisuToday  03:58 pm JST

Very good point.

My wife's mother and sister can't even get an appointment in Saitama until October.

But everyone in the family in Niigata have already been vaccinated a long time ago

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Just one point on the graph, but I got my second one earlier today (50s, no underlying symptoms). My wife (40s) had her first shot last week. Our eldest (16) has her first shot booked for early September.

This is the countryside, where I suspect there are more medical staff per capita, and far fewer hospitalized cases taking up the medical staff we have. If the 50% nationwide figure seems high to you, it may be because other parts of Japan have had a faster rollout than yours. Given the slow initial rollout, I didn't expect to get vaccinated myself until October or so.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

However, these are the results of a trial on 320,000

Is that too small a sample size to make a determination?

Peer teviwed journals like the one's which signed off on Pfizer and Moderna vaccines being 95% effective for at least 2 years? No thanks. If these wretched criminals in government would stand up to the Ameican regime and import safe and effective vaccines, I'd take this latest Russian one without waiting for peer reviewed scientific journals.

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

Read it and weep, people.

It hurts to say. We all wanted to believe that the vaccine was going to work and we'd be jetting off to a vacation somewhere warm this summer, maybe. Perhaps in the Fall. Summer, certainly.

They initially told us wed be good for at least a few years, maybe even lifetime protection. Now its down to perhaps 5 months.

Its failing. Theres no other way to put it.

Its failing

https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.07.29.21261317v1.full.pdf

Lets all get over the disappointment and learn to live with it. Its not going away.

-9 ( +2 / -11 )

Half have been and half have not. There are haves and have nots.

Which is bigger?

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

looks like you're not keeping up with the science.

A single report is not science, specially one that fails completely to prove its point and only says something "may" happen even if clearly contradicted by the available evidence and lacks completely any kind of experimental data.

It is also old news since the manuscript has been criticized since it was a preprint

https://blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/archives/2021/08/16/a-new-antibody-dependent-enhancement-hypothesis

We have hundreds of millions of people who have been vaccinated to produce antibodies against the non-Delta coronavirus protein domains and are who are now being exposed to the Delta variant. To reiterate, there is (to the best of my knowledge) no evidence whatsoever of ADE in this situation. In fact, we see the opposite: people who have been vaccinated are far less likely to become infected with the Delta variant, and if they become infected, they are far less likely to experience severe disease. 

The same as the previous bad attempts to distort the evidence nothing in the report make the antibodies produced by vaccination any different from those acquired in the natural infection with respect of their affinity for the different epitopes, this would mean that if the paper was correct it would have been terribly obvious by this point because people both vaccinated and infected (and people treated with antibodies) would have to get much worse outcomes, something that is completely contradicted by the evidence.

So either vaccinated and infected people are going much worse now (but magically they get a milder disease and die less) or the report theory was simply wrong. It should be obvious what is what happened.

i couldn't have done it without your help virusrex, thanks again!

Not everybody is proud to be found using a terribly bad example so others can learn to avoid doing the same, but you are welcome, hopefully next time you will actually try to understand the arguments and recognize when someone else is trying to sell you bad science as if it was something of importance.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

hattorikunToday  02:51 pm JST

I have not been able to book my first jab. And I am in one of the 23 wards of Tokyo.

Yes Tokyo, Saitama are especially poorly organised.

Our ward has no more vaccine but apparently Minato-ku has a large surplus.

I know people that work in Minato-ku but don't live there.

They walked into one place before closing had their other ward vouchers asked if it was possible and they said yes and vaccinated then right away.

You cannot book but if you walki in near the end of the day they apparently will take you if they have vaccine.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I also had the vaccination at Otemachi and I too was amazed at the efficiency even more so this being Japan.

min my case it less than 40 minutes including the 15-minute wait after the shot.

When I arrived there and saw how many people were waiting in line I thought I would be there all day.

under 40 minutes was awesome.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

It must be 1/2 of the "ghost" population have been vaccinated, as it is very easy for me to say that over 1/2 of the people I have spoken to about getting the jab, either don't have an appt. yet, are not eligible, are not in the category, too far away from a centre, blah, blah, blah........

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Do people really believe this nonsense?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

I have not been able to book my first jab. And I am in one of the 23 wards of Tokyo.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

For all those who have vaccinated, please please don’t let your guard down until the virus out there weakens or is gone. Otherwise you will be spreading the virus to others who might have not been vaccinated for some reasons.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Basically the age bracket 45+ makes up 55% of the population. In other words, it’s statistically more likely for a 45+ to have received at least one dose of the vaccine. And probably only 65+ are fully vaccinated.

which means we will see a lot of cluster in schools very soon (sadly)

3 ( +3 / -0 )

blahblah222Today  01:01 pm JST

This number have a high likelihood of being fake.

I personally is still unable to find an open appointment and I know of no one who was able to get a vaccine or even an appointment.

Everyone I work with and most of my friends have now had both jabs. I had my 2nd one 6 weeks ago.

We're in Tokyo so not sure if that makes a difference.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

It would be good if governments had a back up plan to increase health awareness in case we have a variant escaping the vaccines.

And there folks is the subtle anti vaxxer nudge nudge wink wink the little covert dropping the hint of the vaccine not working.

3 ( +9 / -6 )

AkulaToday  01:17 pm JST

For once we agree.

Now if you are Japanese maybe you can start contacting you elected officials and push them to force companies to give mandatory time off to get vaccinated ( and no people the government has the power just like it have mandatory vacation and holidays).

And once the government does that enforce it.

The biggest problem my children's friend's are facing after just being able to get an appointment is their employers refusing to give them time off to go get vaccinated.

One example is a 25 year old woman, she booked her appointment but her employer told her she could only use lunch time to go. She works in Setagaya-ku but lives in Adachi-ku and her appointment is in Adachi-ku.

See the problem?

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Vaccination is the only way out I am afraid. Japan was complacent and negligent about getting its rollout going, but it seems to have really picked up the pace.

88.5% of over 65s have had at least one dose and 84.7% have had two. Hopefully we can get that sort of coverage with younger generations.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

This number have a high likelihood of being fake.

I personally is still unable to find an open appointment and I know of no one who was able to get a vaccine or even an appointment.

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

I’m hoping all those who want the vaccine can have very quickly. Some people are very scared of Covid and need peace of mind.

It would be good if governments had a back up plan to increase health awareness in case we have a variant escaping the vaccines. Keeping up a strong immune system is good for Covid and also other viruses.

-6 ( +6 / -12 )

The lastest anti vaxxers move seems to no claim either only a quarter, half or no one is fully vaccinated because at some point a booster is needed trying ( but failing) to make it sound like it is now a 3 dose vaccine.

Most of us have had their tetanus vaccine and for most one time in their life will be all they get.

But for others like myself, many construction workers, firefighters, etc...

We regularly get boosters because of the higher risk of contracting tetanus and the nature of the disease and vaccine.

The fact we need a booster doesn't mean we are not vaccinated, half vaccinated, one tenth vaccinated ( I put one tenth in because I must have had at least 10 or more boosters over the years).

Ignore these people especially bthe multiple accounts ones.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

An hour!? That doesn't seem very efficient at all.

As Ian stated after the shot I had to wait at the center for 30 min because I have an aspirin allergy. So roughly 30 min start to finish and I had to wait for an interpreter to show up since I dont speak Japanese well enough to answer medical questions.

There bigger point I was making is that it took 2 business days from the time I made the reservation to actually getting the first shot in Tokyo. Most people I know & many comments I have read complain the process takes too long from actually making the reservation to getting the shot.

I recommend anyone waiting on there local gov to make a reservation to try the Tokyo facility instead.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Lots of posters here are praising Japan's vaccine rollout. Let's explore my experience. I received the vouchers, and an invitation to make an appointment on 21st June 2021. I spent fifty days telephoning and checking the internet everyday trying to get an appointment. I received the first dose today. Second dose is scheduled for 19th September. The vaccine should reach full strength two weeks later i.e September 30th. In my opinion that is service at a snail's pace caused by government complacency and lack of proactive thinking. However, the organisation at Tokyo Dome today was excellent and professional, so I would like to say a big thank you to all the many people working there as they made the vaccination process go smoothly, quickly and calmly.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

The great hypocrisy in my opinion is going after small restaurants and bars while I imagine most government workers in Tokyo have to go into the office and work overtime, and many employers ignore telework urgings. I see it as cultural bullying of the small guy as usual. Let's publish the numbers every day of how crowded train lines are and verified telework statistics for the government workers and those in large companies which are most able to use telework technology.

People where masks all day in the office and don't talk loudly and spit all over. Pretty much impossible to do when you are drinking. So I don't find it hypocritical at all, just common sense.

This is likely a policy put in place when they were tracing the infections earlier on in the pandemic, and found it was spreading at these types of establishments.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

@ShotenGuyToday  06:59 am JST

I had my first dose on the 5th this month. Unfortunately it seriously exacerbated some underlying conditions I have. I've been stuck at home since then slowly recovering. Now I have no hope of being fully vaccinated. I don't know what to do.

Could you please go into more info regarding your underline health issues please if you don’t mind, thanks in advance.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

cause if I check online I just see that less than 4,5 million people on planet Earth died for Corona, are those numbers "a hell of lot people" ? not considering that 7,6 Billion, not million, people are living on planet Earth.

oh dear another that doesn't understand statistics.

1st 7.6 billion people havent been infected yet, as of August 2021 208million people world wide have been infected, 4.3million have died from covid, thats a 2% fatality rate.

so imagine that we couldn't develop a vaccine, that would mean 70% of the worlds population , 5.3billion would need to be infected to reach herd immunity at a 2% fatality rate thats 106million dead. thats almost all the population of Japan dying of covid.

Also got to remember that 2% fatality rate is around 0.5~1% lower because of the huge covid inoculations around the world. so that 106million estimated dead could be as high as 160million taken from stats prior to the development of a vaccine in 2020.

Once again the science and the stats makes the ignorant look arrogant again

1 ( +5 / -4 )

I graduated school decades ago, maths may therefore have had serious breakthroughs since then, but back in my time:

Yeah , it is a bit different now ! :)

0 ( +1 / -1 )

.It weakened her immune system and made her seriously ill.

vaccine no thanks!!

that means its strengthening her immune system, unfortunately if she gets covid her prognosis will be far worse. facts once again for those who choose to ignore the science.

dying from the vaccine is extremely rare , statistically insignificant.

As of August 2021, 162million Americans have been fully vaccinated. out of those 162mil about 1000 people have died of covid. Compare this to the 620000+ people that have died of covid unvaccinated.

So basically youre over 600times more likely to die of covid unvaccinated compared to vaccinated people.

stats on CDC website

3 ( +7 / -4 )

Nearly half of the population is expected to have received two shots by the end of August and close to 60 percent by the end of September

I have very little confidence in this government but i do hope they prove me wrong... Come on Japan lets get everyone vaccinated!

0 ( +3 / -3 )

My own experience probably around 20-25 minutes in and out, includes 15 minutes mandatory waiting time after getting the shot, there are others thathave 30 minutes mandatory waiting time

4 ( +5 / -1 )

An hour!? That doesn't seem very efficient at all. Was there a mandatory meeting before (as we'd expect in Japan?

The poster wasn't the only one inoculated in that hour.

Large scale vaccinations centers here in Japan can inoculate 5k or 10k. You mentioned your center probably inoculates around 4k. So large scale vaccination sites here are designed to and do handle more than the one in your county but I can't say for sure that they are more efficient, need more info for that

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Wow when I wrote the following:

Get ready for an onslaught of anti vaxxers misinformation as they must be pulling their hair out reading this article!

I has clearly right on the money.

The anti vaxxers are out in force and coming up with more and more crazy things to say.

The smell of desperation is in the air.

Sad people now realising their false information fear mongering, etc. didn't and isn't working must be driving them over the edge.

Facts are already over 50% have rejected your false information, the facts are more Vaccination centres are being opened to help alleviate pressure on the already over booked and out of stock cities/wards to keep up with demand.

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

If at least two doses are needed, then this means that only at least a quarter are vaccinated.

"At least". Why "at least"? So hopefully our government has accurate statistics (I have been unable to track them down as of this moment).

Article says nearly 40% are vaccinated, yes at least a quarter

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

The center was busy and very efficient as I was there less than an hour. I was impressed

An hour!? That doesn't seem very efficient at all. Was there a mandatory meeting before (as we'd expect in Japan?).

In my red county, inside a VERY red state, using a drive-thru mass vaccination location at the peak periods of vaccination here, it was 15 minutes from entering the line to leaving the line with the shot. That included filling out a little paperwork. Think they were doing 4K shots daily at that location. I chose to hang out for another 20 minutes and read a book, then headed home. They were slotting people in 15 minute periods, but didn't really care if you arrived a little early or a little late. Heck, I suspect anytime on the correct date would have been fine.

Still, seems like Japan didn't really start vaccinating until May, so 3.5 months to 40% fully vaccinated could mean 80% fully vaccinated by end of November. Impressive, if that holds.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

being "fully vaccinated" meaning: having had two shots (I'm taking another shortcut by omitting the future 3rd shot)

. now, the news is about: half the population having had half the shots.

I graduated school decades ago, maths may therefore have had serious breakthroughs since then, but back in my time:

half of half meant: 50% of 50% = 25% of the job done

Not really worth calling home about, is it?

Half the population having half the shots doesn't mean only 25% have had the 2 shots.

And no need to utilize your maths to find that out, article says nearly 40%

Roughly 49 million people, or nearly 40 percent, have received two doses.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Maybe you've not heard, but there's a hell of a lot more people in hospital or dead around the world due to covid.

excuse me, can you provide me with some data ?

cause if I check online I just see that less than 4,5 million people on planet Earth died for Corona, are those numbers "a hell of lot people" ? not considering that 7,6 Billion, not million, people are living on planet Earth.

do the math to see the 0,00...% of people died by the virus

Get vaccinated people.

no thanks

-13 ( +2 / -15 )

Wow. That is nice!

Very big progress!

Hopefully end of the year we reach 80% and can start to go back to our normal life.

which normal life ? Already Delta variant infects who got a shot, then in Autumn they are already talking about Lamba variant, this story will never end, human beings becoming like a PC where you have to update your antivirus (take a vaccin) every year

Stop this "let's return to normal life" thing, we will never return like 2019 or before

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

BS. There's no way that's true.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Their constant "the Japanese don't trust or want the vaccine" etc...

Now seems to be a moot point!

My boss was pretty skeptical about it but seems to be changing his mind seeing the latest increase in infections. Also helps that a lot of his coworkers (myself included) are getting vaccinated. Once Japanese see that others around them are doing something, they follow suit.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

@kentarogaijin

Japan is in 5th place in number of vaccinations worldwide

Japan is not even close to being 5th in the world. Total vaccine doses is a meaningless measure. It is the per capita vaccination rate that matters.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/world/covid-vaccinations-tracker.html

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Many of the friends of my mid 20s children say even if they can get an appointment, their employers will not give them the time off to go.

This needs to be fixed and a law requiring employer to give employees time if to get vaccinated show be quickly passed.

My company gives us an extra day off for each shot, separate from vacation days. I agree it should be required by law, though. Also many will need to take more days off if they get a fever, which seems to happen to the majority of people.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Get ready for an onslaught of anti vaxxers misinformation as they must be pulling their hair out reading this article!

Their constant "the Japanese don't trust or want the vaccine" etc...

Now seems to be a moot point!

Despite the poorly planned and slow start, it is clear by today's numbers and ongoing demand that the Japanese do want and are getting Vaccinated and in large numbers.

But as we have seen cities and wards in places like Tokyo, Saitama, Kanagawa and Osaka have and are still messing things up and are far behind the rest of Japan.

The fact that the National/prefecture governments have to open mass vaccination centres including a new one in Shibuya for only under 39 tells us these cities/wards are not doing their job.

One more problem is that many employers will not give time off so these people can go get vaccinated.

Many of the friends of my mid 20s children say even if they can get an appointment, their employers will not give them the time off to go.

This needs to be fixed and a law requiring employer to give employees time if to get vaccinated show be quickly passed.

-3 ( +5 / -8 )

If lately the number of cases is about 5000 average this for 3 days it would mean that the number the number of people who received two vaccine shots and still contracted is about 1000.

Even If only 10 of these turn into serious cases needing 2-3 weeks of hospitalization each Tokyo and Osaka won't be able to handle. So get ready for a long and messy winter.

Supposedly the vaccination is supposed to reduce the chance of it turning into a serious case. Would be interesting to see if Japan has any data on that.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Cool...draconian, nanny state living is the new place to be

@ Joffy - You clearly know zero about what you are talking about.

Yesterday you were claiming the Australian gov't is progressive! Still making that claim!?

2 ( +4 / -2 )

I made the reservation online on the Thursday the 12th and received the first shot in Tokyo Otemachi center on the Monday the 16th. The center was busy and very efficient as I was there less than an hour. I was impressed although I think the vaccination program as a whole has been somewhat of a slowly moving boondoggle.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Yeah, they sold it as our only way to return to normal or to achieve herd immunity. Iceland has over 70% of its population vaccinated and they now have more cases than ever.

Wow, would it have anything to do with a variant that is even more easily to spread than any previous variant, ever!

Vaccines still are a huge advantage against the disease, and definitely help going back towards a much more normal life, having infections without deaths is precisely this, even if they are short from reaching herd immunity towards the new variant.

https://www.businessinsider.com/iceland-proves-covid-19-vaccines-work-expert-no-death-may-2021-8

There are a number of very safe repurposed drugs that will quickly and greatly reduce symptoms.

No they are not, scientifically proved and with more and more mounting data that clearly indicate you are wrong, this is as easy to prove as you will not find respected institutions of medicine or science that repeat your mistaken conclusion, I mean you are not expecting people to believe you they are all in a conspiracy to hide drugs that could save their own family and friends when infected, right? it would take a deeply disturbed mind to believe this supposed conspiracy is something all those doctors and scientists would do.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

I debunked you on this point only a day or two ago. Either you missed it, or you're lying intentionally.

The problem with the internet is that most people simply don't care if you disprove their claims, even if you present water-tight proof of them being wrong. They either ignore it or just keep repeating their original message. I don't know if it's the anonymity, or something else, but people's sense of right and wrong, and of shame at being wrong, basically just disappears.

5 ( +10 / -5 )

danToday  08:47 am JST

My student was hospitalised for a week after her first Moderna dose..It weakened her immune system and made her seriously ill.

vaccine no thanks!!

Maybe you've not heard, but there's a hell of a lot more people in hospital or dead around the world due to covid.

Get vaccinated people.

5 ( +14 / -9 )

Some countries, including Israel, have already begun giving the booster shots,

This is true but a little more context would have been better.

Israel is giving booster to certain elderly and those with underlying conditions that results I weakened immune systems.

This isn't so surprising.

Other report are showing Moderna is fairing better than Pfizer on the issue of length of protection and towards Delta but because it has far fewer people that have received Moderna compared to Pfizer the amount of data is limited.

One possible reason experts are looking at for Moderna's possible longer protection is that one dose of Moderna has 3 times the mRNA in it than 2 doses of Pfizer.

As for AZ I would have taken it no problem before Delta but at this point it is far less effective than either Pfizer or Moderna ( though still showing 40% to 60% after 2 doses) NB. Both Pfizer and Moderna are showing between 40% and 70% effectiveness against Delta 2 weeks after the first dose with Moderna being the higher number. But again the data is still coming in and is very limited at this point.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

EricToday  08:41 am JST

I know the CDC refuses to release any data on so-called breakthrough infections, hospitalizations and deaths but out of Minnesota they reported over the last week, 21% of covid deaths were among the fully vaccinated. They presented this as a good thing and why everyone should get vaccinated. How bad do the mRNA vaccines have to be?

Or you could say, 79% of deaths were unvaccinated.

Smart people would rather be in the 21% risk, than in the 79% risk group.

0 ( +7 / -7 )

Burning BushToday  06:50 am JST

concerns of the vaccine's efficacy waning over time

I thought they meant 20 years, but the research in Israel shows 6 months.

That would mean

Actually had you listened to the researchers and virologist none of them say 20 years none said lifetime.

Every time someone said that the main researchers and virologist said it was more likely 12 months at best 2 years and this also applies to those that had covid.

As far back as summer 2020 we were already seeing signs of reinfection which was a very clear signal that immunity was not going to be much more than a year at best

Vaccines and the doses will improve with the latest data and we can expect that in the very near future boosters will be on average yearly in the same way influenza is.

But those with less efficient immune systems such as the elderly and with diseases that lower immune response ( HIV, those that are or have undergone certain cancer treatments, have autoimmune diseases, etc..) may require boosters more frequently.

-4 ( +5 / -9 )

If at least two doses are needed, then this means that only at least a quarter are vaccinated.

"At least". Why "at least"? So hopefully our government has accurate statistics (I have been unable to track them down as of this moment).

For a developed country like Japan, that's a tragically slow rate. The excuses that evil foreign companies don't want to send us doses may have worked at the beginning. However, it's too late for that. I'd like to know the official reason for not vaccinating at the same rapid rate as, say, poorer or less developed countries.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

The number of people who received two vaccine shots and still contracted COVID-19 was less than one-15th of the number of unvaccinated people who contracted the virus among cases reported between Aug 10 and 12.

If lately the number of cases is about 5000 average this for 3 days it would mean that the number the number of people who received two vaccine shots and still contracted is about 1000.

Even If only 10 of these turn into serious cases needing 2-3 weeks of hospitalization each Tokyo and Osaka won't be able to handle. So get ready for a long and messy winter.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Say what? Since when has that bern the case? Until now vaccination has always been about preventing infection.

That is not correct, infection is something extremely difficult to prevent, and most vaccines are not made to fulfill this requirement because to do that they would have to sacrifice safety, vaccines instead are made mostly to prevent the disease, or even to prevent only the dangerous forms of the disease.

If health services take samples from vaccinated people that were exposed during an outbreak of a disease like rubella, mumps, chicken pox, etc. it is common to see seroconversion (elevation of antibody titers against that pathogen) even if the person never showed any symptoms, this means the virus was able to infect the person and stimulate an immune response, but not enough to produce disease.

The confusion is thinking that vaccinated people are not infected just because they never showed any symptoms, that is not always true.

5 ( +14 / -9 )

My student was hospitalised for a week after her first Moderna dose..It weakened her immune system and made her seriously ill.

vaccine no thanks!

to add, the media will never report such cases giving everyone the sense it’s safe but it’s every individual choice to outweigh the risks and get the jab. It’s like gambling

-5 ( +8 / -13 )

My student was hospitalised for a week after her first Moderna dose..It weakened her immune system and made her seriously ill.

vaccine no thanks!!

-12 ( +10 / -22 )

wh the jgovt can’t get the real infection number per day are you sure half of Japan got vaccinated at least once? How the keeping track.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

A lot of criticism for Japan’s slow vaccine rollout is certainly warranted. I finally got my vaccine voucher from local government (Tokyo suburb) and my age bracket can’t even make reservations until November.

That being said corporate Japan stepped up big. Once government announced corporations could do vaccinations I received a survey from my company within a day and later that week I had dates for both my shots. I am younger and was last in line out of 50,000 employees but just received the second shot earlier this week. The entire process, except for brutal side effects from the second shot, was extremely efficient. Same situation with my wife’s employer.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

Vaccination is about limiting symptoms and staying out the hospital.

Say what? Since when has that bern the case? Until now vaccination has always been about preventing infection.

-9 ( +4 / -13 )

Who cares that half the population is only half vaccinated. Let me know when 70% of the population is fully vaccinated, thanks.

7 ( +17 / -10 )

Except, everyone in the US/UK who wanted the vaccine got it at least 6 months ago

Yet, they are seeing record infections and it's summer. In a several weeks it's likely they, vaccinated and unvaccinated alike will be dropping like flies.

I know the CDC refuses to release any data on so-called breakthrough infections, hospitalizations and deaths but out of Minnesota they reported over the last week, 21% of covid deaths were among the fully vaccinated. They presented this as a good thing and why everyone should get vaccinated. How bad do the mRNA vaccines have to be?

-9 ( +3 / -12 )

Japanese efficiency takes awhile to get going, but then catches up. Very impressive. See how people following science and doing what helps their neighbors (and themselves) can have a great impact?

If the studies come back saying that everyone should get a COVID vaccine "booster" annually, it will likely be merged in with the flu shot and covered by insurance with zero co-pay.

Vaccination is about limiting symptoms and staying out the hospital. People who don't get vaccinated will get covid eventually. Some will die. Most will have a bad few weeks. Some will get "long-covid" that lasts months. The vaccines are highly effective is preventing the worst symptoms, but that doesn't matter to people trusting their dogs to keep them safe.

5 ( +10 / -5 )

Voucher, please! I am ready to forge one at this point. I was supposed to get it this month.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

captain-caveman

If half the population is vaccinated then why are all of the bars closed.

Half the population ISN'T vaccinated. They've had ONE shot.

9 ( +13 / -4 )

bringing Japan nearly on a par with the United States and Britain

Except, everyone in the US/UK who wanted the vaccine got it at least 6 months ago. So really, this means Japan was 6 months slower.

13 ( +18 / -5 )

@Hiro - Tp the best of my knowledge we don't have a 'cure' for any virus.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

Half have recieved at least one dose but still, day after day more record infections. The sad this is, insofar as Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, this is a par for the course.

-10 ( +2 / -12 )

I hope will we reach 70% by the end of fall. But i hope we don't have to resort to vaccine the children too and the virus would just die out already.

Vaccine is good and all, but i rather these companies around the world find a cure for the damn virus. Vaccines require boaster shots and actually doesn't really solve the problem.

-6 ( +5 / -11 )

Did get their act together..in the end. We really can't complain.

Roll out was slow, bad - unorganised - that is true. But Japan is catching up % wise on double vaxxed people quickly thanks to rigidly sticking to 3 weeks between doses for Pfizer and 4 weeks for Moderna. Doesn't seem to be any supply issues either.

0 ( +10 / -10 )

Well that is nice seeing that Suga and his family and those around him all got fully vaccinated by February…. 7 months ago! They are ready for a booster as half the peasants are left waiting and wondering when they will even get a first shot.

Too bad only 40% or so of eligible Japanese population vote. Hopefully the 40% of the population with no shots by September decide to vote the LDP out of office… oh… they probably won’t as they are not vaccinated and probably thinking voting will be a high risk activity.

8 ( +11 / -3 )

My first shot is in a week, then the second in mid-September. I was honestly not expecting to get a shot this year, so I'm pleasantly surprised.

14 ( +19 / -5 )

A report from the Science Magazine

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/08/grim-warning-israel-vaccination-blunts-does-not-defeat-delta?utm_campaign=news_daily_2021-08-17&et_rid=16748301&et_cid=3886270

4 ( +6 / -2 )

CONGRATLATIONS Japan, keep going so we can get back our life style.

-8 ( +13 / -21 )

Weren't JT "experts" saying it would take Japan at least 2000 years?

-12 ( +20 / -32 )

Present Japanese PM Suga excessively expects as if only vaccination can solve everything, disrespects other measures except vaccination, and caused present domestic worst epidemic.

One family at Tokyo were everyone infected, but cannot hospitalize, and the lives of mother was lost at home.

19 ( +22 / -3 )

If they can keep up with the 1 million doses a day, then all those who are eligible will be fully vaccinated by the end of the year for sure.

Its been painfully slow and the government can’t be sitting there praising themselves as it’s been a mess and a struggle to get to this point.

Still, it’s progress and albeit slow, on the right track. Let’s hope for more people to take the vaccine as there is still a lot of hesitancy from people here in Japan.

11 ( +16 / -5 )

Appallingly slow roll out.

12 ( +27 / -15 )

Had the first shot and second shot is in the beginning of September.

First shot was fine, just a sore arm. But second shot seems more awful but let's see.

0 ( +9 / -9 )

Roughly 49 million people, or nearly 40 percent, have received two doses.

Nearly half of the population is expected to have received two shots by the end of August and close to 60 percent by the end of September, bringing Japan nearly on a par with the United States and Britain.

The percentages are even higher when we eliminate the segment of the population that can’t currently get vaccinated, i.e., children under 12.

3 ( +12 / -9 )

About the Booster shot, I see already some concerns rising among the people.

Yesterday at my work, I talked with my coworkers about the booster shot and many said, they are not sure if they will take it and some said already they will refuse the booster shot.

The main and only reason is, everyone had strong side effects after the 2nd shot, and they are worried that a 3rd shot will bring up much more side effects.

I guess it take a lot of work and good information to convince the people to take the booster shot.

9 ( +22 / -13 )

Great news, have my second jab tonight and wife on Saturday. The end is in sight for these awful rolling attacks on social life and alcohol the Jgov continue uselessly to urge.

-12 ( +14 / -26 )

If half the population is vaccinated then why are all of the bars closed.

11 ( +28 / -17 )

This another statistics:

Cumulative cases already over 1 million

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/08/06/national/coronavirus-cases-august-6/

Since medical system is stressed and only accept people with severe cases some people die in their home.

https://japantoday.com/category/national/Concerns-over-possible-collapse-of-Japan's-medical-system-mount

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/08/10/national/covid-19-home-deaths/

-3 ( +8 / -11 )

My wife, my adult children, my friends haven’t? My neighbors too. So what half are they talking about?

15 ( +33 / -18 )

concerns of the vaccine's efficacy waning over time

in America they have judged it at 8 months and are now moving on to a third booster for everyone after this time

https://www.theage.com.au/world/north-america/contradicting-who-us-advises-adults-to-receive-covid-19-boosters-20210819-p58jzq.html#comments

9 ( +14 / -5 )

I had my first dose on the 5th this month. Unfortunately it seriously exacerbated some underlying conditions I have. I've been stuck at home since then slowly recovering. Now I have no hope of being fully vaccinated. I don't know what to do.

16 ( +23 / -7 )

Nearly half of the population is expected to have received two shots by the end of August and close to 60 percent by the end of September

Wow. That is nice!

Very big progress!

Hopefully end of the year we reach 80% and can start to go back to our normal life.

11 ( +29 / -18 )

I still remember people saying it will take Japan 100 years to vaccinate its people in the comment section. Japan is not doing too bad when it comes to vaccines in the end, eh?

-38 ( +32 / -70 )

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