Photo/Illutration A resident receives the COVID-19 vaccine at a facility for the elderly. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

The regular vaccinations that are now partially subsidized against COVID-19 based on the law started this month.

Those eligible for the vaccination program, basically operated by municipalities, are individuals 65 and over and those aged 60 to 64 with severe underlying medical conditions.

Each municipality will set a specific vaccination period between Oct. 1 and the end of March next year.

The "special emergency” COVID-19 vaccination that was terminated at the end of the last fiscal year was available for free, but many municipalities now require a co-payment of several thousand yen.

Those who are not eligible for the current vaccination can voluntarily receive shots at their own expense.

Five types of vaccines are available, and the list includes, for the first time, a new type of mRNA vaccine that uses a self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) technology called “replicon," manufactured by Meiji Seika Pharma Co.

Even if people make decisions about vaccinations in consultation with medical institutions and doctors, there will be those who are hesitant to get updated shots.

Providing information on the efficacy and the safety of these vaccines from the government and relevant academic societies is essential for allaying concerns among the public.

The self-amplifying mRNA vaccine against COVID-19 was first approved in Japan last year, a beneficial step that has increased the options available domestically.

Since saRNA can replicate inside the patient's cells, this type of vaccine creates more antibodies that last longer in the body than the usual mRNA vaccines, as shown in clinical trials conducted abroad.

However, the government has explained that the mRNA that enters the body is "broken down in a short period” in the health ministry’s question-and-answer page on the new coronavirus vaccine. It is not surprising that some people feel anxious about replicons.

Efforts should be made not only to provide accurate information about the new vaccine in clear and accessible language but also to provide detailed information to those who want to know more about it, including access to clinical trial results and relevant research papers.

At a vaccine advisory council meeting held by the health ministry last month, some members stressed the need for follow-up studies, pointing out that the clinical trial conducted in Japan involving hundreds of people did not resolve some issues or offer certain information needed.

Special attention must be paid to adverse post-vaccination effects. Manufacturers should continue monitoring such cases and publish data as needed to fulfill their explanatory responsibility.

This summer, a new variant of the virus was prevalent, but fortunately, the situation has calmed with no large-scale outbreaks reported. However, there are still hospitalized patients and many suffer from aftereffects.

Continued vigilance and caution are clearly in order.

The vaccine supply for this season is expected to be more than 30 million doses and exceed the number of shots received by the elderly in the last fiscal year. The government should fulfill its duty of ensuring an even and efficient distribution across regions in cooperation with suppliers.

On the other hand, the number of hospitalized patients during this summer's outbreak has exceeded that of last winter.

It is vital to continue considering whether the current vaccination schedule based on the assumption that COVID-19 peaks in the winter is the best approach while monitoring the global situation.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Oct. 4