A medical worker fills a syringe with a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at Tokyo Medical Center in Tokyo. Photo: AP pool
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Japan struggling to bring forward vaccine booster shots

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What’s the point of getting a booster shot when people are still getting infected after receiving two doses?

To greatly reduce the chances of becoming seriously ill or dying.

26 ( +40 / -14 )

 I got throughly bored of it last year.

Surely not true since you post daily about it.

24 ( +38 / -14 )

They do not need to analyse the vaccines, it’s already been done elsewhere. Many countries have been doing boosters for months, why is the Government acting as if they have just heard about it. I got my booster here on Monday.

14 ( +31 / -17 )

"We are hoping to determine the effect of the existing vaccines on the Omicron strain as soon as possible, and then show the scope and method of moving up booster shots," Kishida said at a plenary session of the House of Representatives.

Which is double speak for, "We are waiting for other countries, particularly the US, to share their data with us"

Everyone who has been here any length of time will know that if the public has to wait for the Japanese to actually "determine" the effect of anything, we wouldnt find out until the next pandemic comes!

14 ( +21 / -7 )

d warn old people to stay at home

In other words, no freedom for old folks, surprising those with underlying conditions and the obese were not also listed. And the anti-vaxxers want to whine they're being discriminated against.

13 ( +22 / -9 )

Latest: Pfizer, BioNTech vaccine neutralises Omicron with three shots

BioNTech and Pfizer said on Wednesday a three-shot course of their COVID-19 vaccine was able to neutralise the new Omicron variant in a laboratory test, an early signal that booster shots could be key to protection against infection from the newly identified variant.

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/biontech-pfizer-say-test-shows-3-doses-vaccine-neutralise-omicron-2021-12-08/

11 ( +24 / -13 )

@Sanjinosebleed

While I don't doubt Pfizer is less than altruistic, I somehow have a hard time believing they were hurting for revenue before the pandemic and will run out of money if mass vaccinations stop.

9 ( +13 / -4 )

Unbelievable isn't it Bob? That simple message just STILL isn't getting across to people. Ready for my booster as soon as it's available for me. Just waiting for the normal suspects to pop up and tell us to take our Vitamin D, stock up on re purposed 'therapeutics' and we'll be 'fine'. We've all seen the Pfizer headlines this morning. It's good news for the short term / winter months. Let's hope Japan get their act together quickly this time.

7 ( +22 / -15 )

“I will get my booster shot just as soon as it is made available to me.”

Good for you!
7 ( +10 / -3 )

Seems a lot of people miss the point.

You're not getting the booster solely for omicron.

Boosters were being discussed even before we knew of omicron.

7 ( +15 / -8 )

Tried to make an appointment for the booster and was denied.

Back in May, I lived in A city and worked as a healthcare worker.

Last month I moved to B city and am no longer a healthcare worker.

Currently, only healthcare workers are eligible for boosters. Now that I am no longer a healthcare worker, I cannot get a booster until February, which will be 9 months after #2 and we know immunity lasts about 6 months.

I do have a pre-existing condition and get surgery every other week for it. But it's incredibly rare and not on the pre-existing conditions list.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

what condition requires surgery every two weeks?

benign subcutaneous tumor caused by HPV that my immune system can’t beat. On year 5.

regular immune systems clear it quickly.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

GoodToday 06:48 am JST

I will get my booster shot just as soon as it is made available to me.

Same with everybody of my family. Considering 6 to 8 months after the first and second shot (Pfizer), the booster shot will be likely in February or March 2022.

We also got already the shot against seasonal flu a few weeks ago and are also vaccinated against pneumonia.

Some side effects after these shots but all of them totally disappeared within 3 days.

Now are very few patients with covid-19 in Japan, less than 1000 persons and outside of the large cities there are several provinces which report zero patients. Hopefully it continues like that.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

I will get my booster shot just as soon as it is made available to me.

4 ( +28 / -24 )

Does Omicron cause serious symptoms, hospitalizations and deaths?

That is the million dollar question asked by@ Raw Beer and Minami Africa seems to be the testing ground. I think having a series of shots makes the Japanese government nervous. I do not think they like the data they are seeing/ or may have scientific data the current vaccines are working and like that data. I do believe its only a matter of time before the Japanese develop a capsule that will break down any variant of Corona. We have seen this before with the different variants of the influenzas strains. Some of the best Virologist and laboratories are in this country and in some of the best Uni's in the world. A break through is due.

But RawBeer asks a fair question. I ask as well. How bad is it really?

4 ( +10 / -6 )

Japan is lucky to have such an obedient and law abiding population, that’s the only reason in my opinion why we don’t have massive outbreaks. Hope it stays that way but with colder weather cases are bound to go up. As for the government policies….. give me a break. They messed the first round up and why should the booster round be any better?

4 ( +8 / -4 )

golden rule no 1

always think first

golden rule no 2

my body my choice.

3 ( +14 / -11 )

hmm I don't know the CDC seems to disagree...

No it does not, at least according to your own source. Saying that everybody benefits from following social distancing rules and vaccinated, but specially vulnerable people benefit more, is very differently from saying most people can be infected without problem.

From their own site

COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for everyone aged 5 years and older in the United States for the prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Who are those uncountable deaths going to be among once the sick and elderly are vaccinated??? The 5 year old???

First, all the sick and elderly that would get infected and die even after vaccination because of rampant transmission would translate rates of failure (which are never 0%) into deaths, then the sick and elderly that can't be vaccinated because of valid medical reasons, and finally the small but still very significant percentage of people that die from the infection even when healthy and young. All those people would die without any need because of your suggestion. And even more since it is becoming clear that people that survive the infection do not recover completely and anybody that needed hospitalization because of COVID have more than double the risk of dying in the next year, even if recovered from the acute infection.

my body my choice.

There is nothing wrong with that as long as you choose to be treated as an unvaccinated people, the problem is people that want to remain unvaccinated for irrational reasons but be treated as if they were rational.

3 ( +18 / -15 )

Awful lot of immunology specialists in the comments sections lately...

3 ( +8 / -5 )

Japan struggling to bring forward vaccine booster shots

I don't think so. I think Japan doesn't agree with world mandates and are stalling as long as possible in the hopes that a booster shot will not be needed.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

Well, seeing how the “new variant” seems to be solely in folks who received the shot, perhaps another dose isn’t such a good thing. Bio N tech CEO said 3 more doses would be needed for this new variant. 6 in total, my arm is already hurting just thinking about it

According to the BBC News, the number of COVID cases with the Omicron variant is rapidly increasing. From 6 days ago, "Some 11,500 new Covid infections were registered in the latest daily figures. That is a sharp rise on the 8,500 cases confirmed the previous day. By contrast, daily infections were averaging between 200 and 300 in mid-November, a top South African scientist told the BBC." Only 25% of the South African population is fully vaccinated. With this low vaccination rate, you can assume there are quite a few people who are not vaccinated and infected with the Omicron variant.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

I will not get my booster if it is Moderna. Don’t need another kick in the nuts.

I received my Moderna booster in Japan a couple of months ago thank to my employer (the U.S. government). The Moderna booster is just half a dose of the vaccine. My arm was literally only half as sore for half a day. However one of my colleagues had a fever and aches for a couple of days after his. Everyone has a unique reaction to the vaccines so I wouldn't let this prevent you from getting one. I hope the Japanese government will allow you to mix and match your booster vaccines with your previous vaccines if you like. I just stayed with Moderna for all three vaccinations.

3 ( +9 / -6 )

The Japanese government has been struggling to present concrete plans to bring forward vaccine booster shots against the novel coronavirus.

Oh look, Deja vu.

Weren’t they struggling to figure things out in the beginning of 2021 as well?

Might as well end 2021 with a similar problem.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

the virus is mutating to the vaccines which is normal so if your at risk of infection its your choice to continue or not.

At least in Japan you have a choice.

2 ( +8 / -6 )

How about not bringing the boosters but sending them to undervaccinated countries? it seems we are lucky with Omicron, but the next variant may not be so weak so just help everybody get vaccinated.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Is too early for Japan to able to make plans anyway. WHO said they need at least 2 more weeks to able to see just how dangerous Omicron is and how effective the boosters vaccines are. Scientist are also worried about long covid. It basically means some symptoms are still affecting the victims daily lives for months when they recovered. And if it keep spreading worldwide, another mutation could happen again. That is the most worrying part. So right now all we can do is see how this thing will play out and learn more from it.

1 ( +13 / -12 )

It was refreshing to see Japan put warnings on these vaccines. Just keep the boosters away from young healthy males or these findings may be even more dire...

That makes absolutely no sense, do you know what is a much more likely source of every one of those complications? the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Even counting all incidence after the vaccination as if produced by the vaccines (as in including the natural occurence) this would still be a reduction of the risk compared with remaining unvaccinated.

What’s the point of getting a booster shot when people are still getting infected after receiving two doses?

It reduces the importance of the disease, the risk of infection, transmission and also makes it more difficult for the virus to propagate for long enough to develop into other variants.

The only people who require boosted are the only people who should have been vaxxed in the first place...The over 70s and those with serious health conditions!

The experts of the world say you are completely wrong and doing that would have caused uncountable unnecessary deaths, they have the data and career to support their conclusions, you obviously don't.

You can safely ignore anything Pfizer says, it will change nothing and your suggestion would still be counterproductive.

1 ( +16 / -15 )

Meiyouwenti

What’s the point of getting a booster shot when people are still getting infected after receiving two doses?

The vaccines prevent serious symptoms, hospitalizations and deaths. The positive effects of vaccines wear off over time so need to boosted. Just like you have to replace the battery in your phone every few years. Vaccines aren't perfect, just like wearing a seatbelt in a car won't guarantee you'll survive a car crash, but they reduce the risk of death.

1 ( +13 / -12 )

“Japan is lucky to have such an obedient and law abiding population, that’s the only reason in my opinion why we don’t have massive outbreaks. Hope it stays that way but with colder weather cases are bound to go up. “

All else equal, same jabs on different people/countries but different results so I guess to some extent it comes down to the people. We do what is right when we can.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Do we really need to get the boosters?

Many famous people don't think so:

https://cnb.cx/3EFPqXd

I won’t click the link.

Are they medical professionals or American Football players?

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Simian LaneToday  07:16 am JST

Lift all restrictions, and warn old people to stay at home, otherwise they risk death. This is the road back to normal.

This is without a doubt the stupidest idea so far. Again a little math. Japanese population: 127 million. Absolute minimum infection rate to reach herd immunity: 70%. Mortality rate: 2%. Simple math: 127 million 0.7 0.02 = 1,778,000 preventable deaths.

There are variables such as the effectiveness of the vaccine in the vaccinated population that could drive that number down.

There are also variables such as the true immunization/infection rate needed and the likely higher mortality rate as Japans health system breaks down that would drive the number up.

But 10 seconds of elementary math (or “maths” for my British counterparts) shows this to be a truly dumb idea.

In addition it’s not going to happen as it would be political suicide.

mine only hears about it on the comments site of a local news outlet. That’s how idiotic this idea is.

0 ( +19 / -19 )

https://www.bloombergquint.com/coronavirus-outbreak/omicron-symptoms-far-milder-s-africa-hospital-group-ceo-says

Looks like Omicron is much milder and vaccine overload will become a thing of the past

0 ( +9 / -9 )

@Raw Beer. In response to your last 3 retorts: Utter Tosh.

0 ( +7 / -7 )

Well, seeing how the “new variant” seems to be solely in folks who received the shot, perhaps another dose isn’t such a good thing. 

Biased sampling is what gives this wrong impression, you can't extrapolate anything from a biased sampling (testing only vaccinated people) the only conclusions you can make are about the population that is being included (for example that vaccinated people seem to have minor symptoms even after infection).

they are doing alright.. definitely well enough to pay a few shills to spread the word...

Whoever says anything is not important, but the evidence used to do it. If there is scientific evidence to say vaccines are much safer than the infection then it would not matter if the CEO of Pfizer or an kindergarten child says it, it would still be true. This is precisely the contrary of baseless guesses and conspiracy theories, that by definition are used without any evidence they are true (or even with evidence they are false).

Yes, we should base our health decisions on a pharma press release...

Well, you have repeatedly used their declarations to "prove" things, so you will have to decide if they are a source that you think can be used or not. Else you evidence double standards which completely disqualify whatever you want to say.

The vaccines also cause serious symptoms, hospitalizations and deaths.

In a tiny minority of cases, which means vaccinating reduces the risk of all those outcomes for anybody for whom the vaccines are indicated. So if they reduce them that means they do prevent them.

Does Omicron cause serious symptoms, hospitalizations and deaths?

At this point nobody knows at what rates, so saying omicron is less risky than the vaccines is invalid, a guess made without any data to support it.

-1 ( +12 / -13 )

A booster for what? The sore throat and headaches you get from this new variant,if that?

The vaccine is not just for the individual protection. Read up so you can increase your knowledge.

-1 ( +9 / -10 )

Sanjinosebleed

https://www.bloombergquint.com/coronavirus-outbreak/omicron-symptoms-far-milder-s-africa-hospital-group-ceo-says

Looks like Omicron is much milder and vaccine overload will become a thing of the past

We can only hope. But still too early to know.

Vaccine overload was never a thing. Best to get the booster for this one.

-1 ( +7 / -8 )

The Japanese government has been struggling to present concrete plans to bring forward vaccine booster shots against the novel coronavirus

Ooh, color me surprised...not.

"We are hoping to determine the effect of the existing vaccines on the Omicron strain as soon as possible, and then show the scope and method of moving up booster shots," Kishida said at a plenary session of the House of Representatives.

Because gods forbid they use the already existing studies available from other countries. This arrogant mentality of Japanese superiority is going to be the final nail in the coffin one day.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

So given there is only about 10 cases a day in Super Happy Fantastic Ultra Perfect Land (Japan), about 50% of all new cases are Omricon?

Omicron is so mild, most people don't even know they have it, until they get tested for other reasons (e.g., returning travelers).

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

Anyone who still believes we are living in a pandemic is completely at the mercy of big Pharma. If they tell you to get a booster shot every 3 months that's exactly what you'll do.

You’ll do whatever your government tell you to do. Don’t pretend otherwise unless you are living off the grid and cooking squirrel for dinner.

‘Big Pharma’ are a bogeyman for people who don’t or can’t think too much.

If you are living in the woods and brewing herbal teas to cure your ills, good for you.

If not, then you are at the ‘mercy’ of ‘Big Pharma’ who also make your tummy ache pills and shampoo.

For those who believe this has become a total fraud, nobody will get a Covid vaccine ever.

Huh?

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

BioNTech and Pfizer said on Wednesday ...

Yes, we should base our health decisions on a pharma press release...

The vaccines prevent serious symptoms, hospitalizations and deaths.

The vaccines also cause serious symptoms, hospitalizations and deaths.

Does Omicron cause serious symptoms, hospitalizations and deaths?

-2 ( +12 / -14 )

“There is nothing wrong with that as long as you choose to be treated as an unvaccinated people, the problem is people that want to remain unvaccinated for irrational reasons but be treated as if they were rational.”

why should there be different treatment of sick people based on your reasoning? Would you leave someone untreated just because they got sick for reasons you don’t like?

-2 ( +9 / -11 )

They are talking about dose number three and I'm struggling with taking a first one!

You mean struggling to make an appointment or struggling mentally?

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

Don’t only always announce and talk, just start now to boost or vaccinate, and I mean better after four months instead of eighth or six. Making generous vaccine presents to the whole globe when the numbers are low also isn’t a solution when it then suddenly lacks here when occurring a new variant or the immune efficacy exponentially decreases to levels of almost unvaccinated. The reason is, we have to be more quickly with all that processes, also using now and first the very weak original variant vaccine being still much better than nothing or only talking, before that omicron or the new stealth omicron takes over everywhere and maybe an adapted specific new vaccine is developed, but then checked, produced and distributed in half a year or later.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Do we really need to get the boosters?

Many famous people don't think so:

https://cnb.cx/3EFPqXd

-4 ( +7 / -11 )

Good news, I don't like booster shot.

-5 ( +10 / -15 )

portoToday  08:40 am JST

@Sanjinosebleed

While I don't doubt Pfizer is less than altruistic, I somehow have a hard time believing they were hurting for revenue before the pandemic and will run out of money if mass vaccinations stop.

https://edition.cnn.com/2021/11/02/business/pfizer-earnings/index.html

they are doing alright.. definitely well enough to pay a few shills to spread the word...

-5 ( +7 / -12 )

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html

@virusrex

hmm I don't know the CDC seems to disagree...

Who are those uncountable deaths going to be among once the sick and elderly are vaccinated??? The 5 year old???

Complete bunk!

-6 ( +10 / -16 )

I believe booster shot will provide with constructive priority, like a 1st line worker.

-6 ( +4 / -10 )

The only people who require boosted are the only people who should have been vaxxed in the first place...The over 70s and those with serious health conditions!

Of course Pfizer et al will disagree as they will run out of revenue...

-10 ( +11 / -21 )

What’s the point of getting a booster shot when people are still getting infected after receiving two doses?

Exactly.

Otherwise you don't need the booster shot

-17 ( +10 / -27 )

What’s the point of getting a booster shot when people are still getting infected after receiving two doses?

-20 ( +16 / -36 )

Bringing the booster shot forward is an extremely bad idea. It will have effect if it’s given early.

-25 ( +13 / -38 )

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