Is a third vaccination necessary… a doctor living in the US answers your questions!

The third round of vaccinations in Japan doesn’t seem to be making much progress, does it? It’s such a waste. It’s such a waste. Why don’t people get vaccinated as soon as it’s their turn?

This is Dr. Sotaro Mine, a doctor living in the United States.

I don’t think it’s right to be hesitant about the vaccine for Moderna . There is data that shows that the Moderna vaccine is more effective than the Pfizer vaccine, including against Omicron, which is currently in vogue. The fact that the adverse reactions are a little stronger is also a side effect of the fact that it is more effective . Adverse reactions can occur in different ways, but there are certain trends in reactive adverse reactions.

Now thatthe infection isspreading greatly, it is better to prevent it by getting vaccinated; it is clearly known that up to thethird dose of vaccination, the effectiveness of the vaccine in preventing infection, onset of disease, and serious illness increases to some extent.

We should overcome this wave by strengthening our immunity with vaccines and taking basic precautions such as hand washing, masks, and avoiding 3-dense areas.

Is it true that “cross vaccination” is good? is it true?

Some people say that Pfizer’s vaccine is better, Moderna’s is better, or “cross-vaccination” with a different one is better.

Some peoplesay they prefer Pfizer’s vaccine, some say they prefer Moderna’s, and some say they prefer ‘cross vaccination. The only vaccine that has been used in Japan is AstraZeneca’s, which has a different technology and design.

From the first two doses, the antibody titer will drop over time. Therefore, booster vaccinations are necessary. Think of it as a “set of three vaccinations.

Adverse reactions are common, such as fever,swollenlymph nodes, etc., as the immune system reacts, and in rare cases, severe reactions may occur, but the benefits are still greater. It is important for one’s own prevention. And it ‘ s true that it can also be helpful for society as a whole.”

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To control the infection

The sixth wave has begun to be said to have passed its peak, but the number of infected people is still high.

That’s right. Omicron is less severe than delta, and the number of deaths has not been as high as in thepast. Some people think that this is why it is safe, but in absolute numbers, there are many infected people. It is a pandemic. It is better to contain the epidemic. It is still a threat to the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions, and the impact of reduced workforce, school closures, and business restrictions is significant.

If we can contain the spread of the infection and get it under control like we did last fall, then we can go back to doing what we want to do, such as traveling and eating out, while being careful, and we can run our economy much more freely.

And viruses keep mutating. There is always a possibility that another ‘ mutated virus ‘ will be born and spread, so it is important to control the epidemic.

The new corona is currently classified as a “designated infectious disease, class 2. There are some who argue that it should be lowered to Class 5, the same as seasonal influenza.

I don’t think it’s a good idea, and to be frank, it’s a trivial argument, not essential. Currently, it is positioned as a category 2 equivalent, not a category 2, and there is no individual burden for treatment costs. Although there are problems with the medical system, it would still be a relief to be able to connect to medical care without worrying about the cost. In the U.S., where public expenses are not borne by the government, there have been cases of people going bankrupt due to medical expenses.

In addition, if you are treated as a Category 2 patient, all cases will be reported, so you will be able to monitor the situation. It is one thing to understand the prevalence of the disease, but I think it would be appropriate to deal with the disease for a while as it has been for a long time, as a category 2 disease, where various measures can be taken.

It is, after all, a “special disease. On the other hand, the word “deemed positive” is also used.

I wonder about the expansion of randomPCR testing. I have my doubts about the expansion of random PCR testing. Testing people who have no symptoms at alland are not at particular risk will consume material and human resources for testing, and resources may not be allocated to more important areas. It is too costly, and we need to consider cost-effectiveness. In order to use limited resources effectively, it would be more efficient to ensure that people with symptoms , those in close contact, and those who are at high risk or who would be at great risk if infected, are tested rather than testing everyone.

Now is the time to be patient, both emotionally and economically.

What can we do now to stop the infection?

I think now is the time for patience. Instead of trying to take strange measures, we need to face the reality of the situation by taking basic preventive measures without hesitation.

It is a good idea to get a vaccine booster shot as soon as possible when it is your turn.

Again, basic measures are of utmost importance. Fortunately, many Japanese people don’t have much resistance to wearing a mask. Just wearing a mask will certainly increase the preventive effect to some extent and lower the risk. And avoid 3 dense. Some people are asymptomatic infected, so the more dense you are, the more contact you have with an unspecified number of people, the higher your risk of infection.

Whether it is family or friends, it is now necessary to reduce contact as much as possible and maintain physical distance . Fortunately, in Japan, we don’t have the same culture of frequent parties as in the U.S., so it is relatively easy to protect ourselves. Of course, hand washing is also effective.

There is a great deal to be gained by confronting people. There are feelings that can be satisfied by “meeting” people in person. We need to make decisions on a case-by-case basis based on our feelings, the economy, and the situation of infection.

The virus can mutate, and the situation will change rapidly. We’ve been in this kind of ‘routine’ for more than two years, but I want to get over it smartly and get away from it, for myself and for society.

There is also progress in the development of treatments and cures. The epidemic always goes up and then goes down again. Japan has been able to overcome this problem successfully so far. Now, anyway, it is time to be patient. But we will get over this wave, too.

We need to come to terms with our feelings and look at the situation. I want to believe that our future should be bright.

Sotaro Mine: Doctor (pathologist), pharmacist, and doctor of medicine. Graduated from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, the Nagoya University School of Medicine, and the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine. After working at the National Center for Global Health and Medicine Hospital and the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, he became a postdoctoral fellow at the U.S. National Institutes of Health. He specializes in pathology, virology, and immunology, and is also well versed in vaccine information and medical literacy issues. His nickname is “Dr. Babu.