新型インフル ワクチンだけには頼れない

The Yomiuri Shimbun(Aug. 28, 2009)
Vaccine isn't the only weapon against new flu
新型インフル　ワクチンだけには頼れない（8月28日付・読売社説）

Expectations are rising that infections of the H1N1 strain of influenza A and further outbreaks could be prevented once the vaccine for the new flu becomes available.
　ワクチンがあれば新型インフルエンザの感染を防ぎ、急拡大も抑えられるのではないか――。
　こんな期待が高まっているが、そうした思惑通りに行くだろうか。

However, it is far from a foregone conclusion that things will pan out as expected. Even past epidemics of seasonal influenza have not been repulsed by a vaccination program.
　例年のインフルエンザでも、ワクチンの接種で流行を抑え込めたという例はないからだ。

Of course, vaccination can work to a certain extent. During ordinary flu seasons, vaccinated people will develop only relatively mild symptoms even if they become infected with the disease.
　一定の効果はあるだろう。例年の流行でもワクチンを接種すれば症状は軽い、と言われてきた。

Medical experts also point out that the spread of infection could slow if a large number of people are vaccinated. If the number of patients falling into critical condition is reduced thanks to a vaccination program, front-line doctors and hospitals would have more time to treat flu patients in general.
　大勢が接種すると、感染拡大のペースが遅れるという効能も指摘されている。ワクチンで重症化する患者が減れば、その分、医師や病院も治療に余裕が持てる。

However, the flu vaccine has the major drawback of providing only weak preventive effects. This is different from the vaccine for measles, which can prevent the disease developing once a person is inoculated. Furthermore, vaccination in general has very minor side effects.
　問題は、インフルエンザワクチンの予防効果が低いことだ。接種すれば発症を防げる「はしかワクチン」などと異なる。しかも一般的にワクチン接種には、ごくわずかだが、副作用がある。

The government must explain the limited effectiveness of the flu vaccination to the public. The most important thing is to help people understand that inoculation is not the only countermeasure against the new influenza strain.
　政府は、インフルエンザワクチンの限界を国民に丁寧に説明する必要がある。特に大切なのは、ワクチンだけが対策ではない、と理解してもらうことだ。

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Prevention better than cure

Obviously, preventing infection is the best way to defang the new-flu threat. Regularly washing one's hands and gargling are quintessential rules for preventing infection. Members of the public also must bear in mind that they will be unable to avoid infection if the virus spreads widely because most people are not immune to the new flu.
　まず予防する。手洗い、うがいは鉄則だ。ほとんどの人に免疫がないので、流行が拡大すれば、感染を免れることはできないという自覚も必要になる。

However, it also should be remembered that most people, excluding small children and people with kidney and other chronic diseases, would likely display only mild symptoms even if they catch the new flu. Of course, people with mild symptoms should be careful not to spread this disease.
　その際、腎臓病などの持病を抱えた人や幼児を除き、通常はほとんどが軽症で済む、ということも覚えておきたい。無論、軽症でも感染を広げない注意は要る。

Meanwhile, the shortage of vaccine for the seasonal influenza has often caused widespread consternation.
　ただ、例年のインフルエンザでも、ワクチン不足は各地に不安を広げることが、よくある。

Worryingly, the same problem has become apparent regarding the new-flu strain. Domestic manufacturers are working flat-out to produce a vaccine for the new flu, but they are unable to produce enough to meet the nation's requirements. Japan reportedly faces a shortage of about 20 million doses. However, panic over the new-flu vaccine must be avoided.
　まして、今回は新型だ。新型用ワクチン製造は本格化しているが必要量に追いつかない。国内で約２０００万人分が不足する、とも言われている。新型のワクチンを巡る混乱は避けたい。

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Govt must pull out all stops

The government must immediately discuss and decide who should be given priority in receiving vaccinations. It makes perfect sense that medical workers and people likely to develop serious symptoms should they catch the new flu be given priority. However, the current projected supply of vaccine is not sufficient even to cover these high-risk groups.
　そのためにも、ワクチンをだれに接種するか、優先順位の論議を急ぐ必要がある。医療従事者や新型感染で重症化しやすい人は当然だろう。それでも、現在の供給見通し量では追いつかない。

The government should take every possible measure to acquire enough vaccine to combat the new flu.
　政府は、新型用のワクチン確保に全力を挙げるべきだ。

Importing vaccine from the United States and European countries has been touted as the best solution to meet this shortfall. However, the government has not yet settled on measures to confirm the safety of imported vaccine and detailed procedures to deal with possible side effects.
　その切り札として、欧米などからのワクチン輸入が有力視されている。ただ、安全性を確認する方法や副作用が出た時の詳細な対応が決まっていない。

Until 15 years ago, the government required every primary and middle school student to be vaccinated against influenza. However, mandatory vaccination was terminated because of lingering doubts about its effectiveness and possible side effects.
　国内では１５年前まで、小中学生全員にインフルエンザワクチン接種を義務づけていた。だが、副作用被害に加え効果を疑問視する意見も出て、廃止された。

The government must tread carefully to ensure a sense of mistrust against flu vaccine does not take hold among the public once again.
　再びワクチンへの不信感を広げることがない対応が重要だ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 28, 2009)
（2009年8月28日01時16分 読売新聞）