Verifying the third expected effect of the COVID vaccine will be difficult

A Medical Telegraph from Dr. Kenji Sakai

    The COVID-19 vaccine is expected to not only prevent the development and worsening of symptoms (functional immunity), but to also prevent further infections (sterilized immunity). Of course, preventing symptoms from developing and worsening is important, but preventing outbreaks is just as essential. Even if symptomatic cases decrease, asymptomatic cases will only increase, thereby, making further outbreaks impossible to prevent.

　However, at this point in time, we have no definite evidence on how effective the COVID-19 vaccine will be on preventing infections. Additionally, conducting clinical trials to determine if the vaccine provides sterilized immunity will be difficult. The COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials that were conducted were randomized controlled trials (RCT), which is a high-level clinical research method. Comparing the vaccinated group against the control group can prove the effectiveness of the vaccine against developing mild and severe symptoms. However, there is no data on whether the participants have prevented others from being infected.

　One of the ways to prove that the vaccine has sterilized immunity is to observe the whole population. If the vaccine prevents infections, then the vaccinated group, combined with the unvaccinated population, should have reduced numbers of symptomatic cases compared to a completely unvaccinated group.

　Acquiring evidence to prove that the COVID-19 vaccine prevents infections is still in progress. Israel is taking the lead with the research. They have vaccinated over 20% of the population with the first dose of the vaccine. The data on whether the vaccine is effective on infection prevention will be obtained soon.

　However, we should remember that the data from Israel might be different from Japan. Israel implemented a lockdown while also vaccinating the population as measures against COVID-19. Even if Israel reduces their number of new cases in the future, they cannot conclude that it was the effectiveness of the vaccine at work. It is possible that other countermeasures had been more effective in prevention than the vaccine is. Any other research method aside from the randomized controlled trial is believed to produce a lower level of evidence.

　During this time, we must consider combining various pieces of information. Different countries are vaccinating their populations at different paces and at different scales. If the vaccine can prevent infections, we can observe the decreasing trend of new infections depending on the scale of vaccination in each country. Even if there is undeniable proof coming from the data of only one country, it would be more convincing to combine different pieces of information to come to a definite conclusion.

　In any case, Japan will be able to vaccinate its population a little later. As mentioned before, the vaccine will not work immediately after inoculation. The vaccine is not 100% effective. Even if it may prevent infections, it will not work unless a certain percentage of the population is vaccinated. In the meantime, we must continue implementing our current countermeasures against new infections.

(Dr. Kenji Sakai's series of articles have been compiled into a book.)

The book entitled "A Medical Telegraph: Improving Doctor-Patient Relationships," is a compilation of this series up to this 80th article. (Medicine and Nursing Co., 2138 yen) https://goo.gl/WkBx2i

(Apital: A Medical Telegraph from Dr. Kenji Sakai and etc.)http://www.asahi.com/apital/healthguide/sakai/

Source: https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASP1G6J5VP1GUBQU004.html?iref=com_apitop

Akashi paints the city with rainbows as they kick off the LGBTQ+ Friendly Project

Hyogo, Akashi -- Akashi is the first city in Japan to introduce the familyship system, which recognizes same-sex couples and their children as families, alongside the partnership system on January 8. (This new system includes marriage registration and being able to register without discrimination is wonderful news.) To keep the momentum going, the city, along with other organizations and businesses, are continuously working hard together to launch the "LGBTQ+ Friendly Project" with the newly introduced system for their community development plan. The slogan will be "No matter what your sexual orientation or gender identity and gender expression is, everyone should be able to live true to themselves and work together to understand each other." Akashi city seeks to be known as the "city of living your truth as the norm." More importantly, they will be holding an "Akashi Rainbow Campaign" for two months, which will be finishing at the end of February. They aim to raise awareness by putting up posters, stickers, and rainbow flags all over the city.

　The city also held an "LGBTQ+ Friendly Project Kick Off Event" to commemorate the start of the project and the implementation of the partnership and familyship system on January 9. The event was held in the Akashi city plaza (Papios Akashi 2nd floor). Bourbonne, Suzuka Inoue, Katsunori Kano, and Masahiro Shimada were invited as guests to the event. The ceremony for hanging each of the colours of the huge rainbow flag on the glass windows of Papios Akashi, a landmark in front of the Akashi station, was incredibly moving. The mayor's speech was also well-received.

　There was also a photo exhibition「OUT IN JAPAN」 being held in the same venue. The exhibition is planned to be displayed at the Aeon Akashi Shopping Center, Akashi Library, and city hall in the future. The「OUT IN JAPAN」photo exhibition has been held in different cities, but this is the first time that it will be displayed in different parts of the city in a caravan-like way. This will be very good exposure for the exhibition since more of the residents will be able to see it.

　Furthermore, different places in front of the train station are decorated with rainbows. The city does not stop at hanging a rainbow flag at the city plaza, but they also painted the central stairs with rainbow colours (which is probably another first in the country). The Akashi Municipal Planetarium, which signifies Akashi as the "City of Time," lights the city up in rainbows. People can have a view of the rainbows from different parts of the city. Through all of these, the city-wide LGBTQ awareness campaign has expanded quite phenomenally. (This wouldn't have happened without the government's help.) Additionally, there are also plans for libraries and bookstores to do a series of collaborations called 「本のまち×みんなにやさしいまち」(lit. Book Town X Friendly Town), and also an Akashi Rainbow stamp rally.

　"Akashi is a town, friendly to both LGBTQ folks and to children. I wonder if I should move to Akashi now," someone said on social media.

　This is truly wonderful news to lift the curtains for 2021.

　Other cities could do the same amazing things if they just put in the work (like hiring and working with LGBTQ support specialists). Akashi is showing us the results of their hard work. We expect to see more exciting things from the Akashi LGBTQ+/SOGIE policy team in the future.


Source: https://www.outjapan.co.jp/lgbtcolumn_news/news/2021/1/8.html

Reviewing the Basic Energy Plan in 2021 with a focus on combining various sources of energy

    The Japanese government will re-examine the medium and long term policies in the Basic Energy Plan for the new year. Aiming to be a decarbonized society by 2050, Japan is focusing on how to utilize renewable energy and nuclear power as their main sources of electricity.

The Basic Energy Plan is reviewed once every three years. The current plan for 2030 is as follows:
▼Increasing the use of renewable energy from 22% to 24%,
▼Increasing the use nuclear power from 20% to 22%
▼Keeping thermal power at about 56%

    The government included a reference value of increasing the use of renewable energy from 50% to 60% by 2050 in their decarbonization plan as of last December.

    For this reason, they are discussing the predicted percentage of how high they can increase the use of renewable energy by 2030 as they review the Basic Energy Plan.

    However, there are other problems. Since renewable energy such as solar and wind energy rely on natural conditions and weather, electric generation fluctuates greatly. They still have to figure out how nuclear power comes into play for this plan.

    Because nuclear power does not emit carbon dioxide when generating energy, it is a practical choice for the government's plan for decarbonization; however, there remains a deep-seated concern for safety.

    That being the case, they will mainly focus on how to combine renewable energy and nuclear power for sources of electricity as they re-examine the Basic Energy Plan this year.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20210103/k10012795011000.html?utm_int=news-culture_contents_list-items_003