Photo/Illutration Hot yoga studio chain LAVA asks users who took the replicon vaccine to refrain from entering its facilities. (Captured from the company’s official website)

Some stores and medical-related facilities have refused service for people inoculated with the replicon COVID-19 vaccine because of unsubstantiated rumors about the dangers of the shots.

Health minister Takamaro Fukuoka tried to dispel fears that have spread over the internet that replicon vaccine components can infect unvaccinated people.

“There is no scientific evidence that the vaccine components can be transmitted to others and cause health damage,” Fukuoka said at a news conference on Oct. 4.

But concerns have persisted since replicon vaccine shots started in Japan this fiscal year.

The replicon vaccine is structured to make self-copies of mRNA, a blueprint of part of a virus, inside cells and to temporarily increase the amount of mRNA.

The vaccine is called “self-amplifying” because it replicates within the body.

At clinical trials conducted in Japan, some patients felt pain in the injected parts of their bodies. Other subjects felt a sense of fatigue as a side effect.

However, most of the symptoms were mild or moderate and disappeared a few days after the shots were administered.

The vaccine’s self-amplifying nature has led to rumors that components of the actual virus can be transmitted from inoculated individuals to others.

“We are refusing to allow people who took replicon vaccines to enter our store for a while,” a hair salon located in Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture, said on its blog.

The owner of the hair salon in her 50s said she learned about the “risks” from social media and books.

She said she previously had not rejected people from her store because of vaccines, but she has long distrusted the government and the media because they haven’t provided information on the disadvantages of COVID-19 vaccines.

A company that operates hot yoga studio chain LAVA told replicon vaccine users on its website, “Until the safety of the vaccine is confirmed, please refrain from entering our facilities.”

When asked by Asahi reporters about the policy, the company said in an email, “We refrain from providing any information beyond what has been announced on the official website.”

A dental clinic located in Tokyo asked patients who took the replicon vaccines to wait six months after the shots before entering the clinic again. It said the effects of the vaccine wear off after six months.

An official of the medical corporation that operates the dental clinic said it decided on the policy based on information gained through the internet and books that pointed out the danger of the replicon vaccine.

“Although I didn’t read the books, we thought it would be better to avoid replicon vaccinated patients if such books have been published,” the official said.

The official also feels the government hasn’t explained enough about the risks of the vaccine.

“We can’t figure out what it is. We thought if safety is not adequately confirmed, we should avoid it,” the official said.

CALM RESPONSE URGED

The health ministry has explained that mRNA, not the virus itself, increases in replicon vaccines.

“Therefore, scientifically, the virus is highly unlikely to be transmitted,” the ministry said.

Junichiro Nishi, a professor at the graduate school of Kagoshima University who specializes in infectious diseases, said the expression “self-amplifying” has made some people anxious about the vaccine.

“The components are highly unlikely to be transmitted. I hope those who are worried about the vaccine will ask experts on infectious diseases or vaccines,” he said.

Japan is the first country to put a self-amplifying mRNA vaccine into practical use.

The health ministry’s expert committee that approved the replicon vaccine has said, “It is desirable to provide thorough information regarding the mechanics of how it works and the possibility of residual presence in the body.”

Health minister Fukuoka said at the Oct. 4 news conference: “I know there are various voices of concern. We will conduct further safety evaluation appropriately and take necessary measures when we obtain new knowledge.”

(This article was written by Hiroshi Nakano and Kenta Noguchi.)

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