Text by Takeshi Nemoto (2021/03/23)    Translation  by Miho S.    Narration by Veven Cristbal

N1)  Vaccinations against COVID-19 are now taking place in Japan. In some cases, side effects, which are “fuku-hannoh” in Japanese, can appear after the vaccination.

N2)  The possible side effects of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, which is now used in Japan, include pain in the arm where you get the shot, tiredness, headache, muscle and joint pain, chills, diarrhea, and fever. Most of these symptoms disappear in a few days after getting vaccinated. Please visit a doctor if the fever continues for more than 2 days, if the symptoms are severe, or if other symptoms appear.

N3) Also, in rare cases, severe allergic reactions called anaphylaxis may happen. In the US, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has caused anaphylaxis at a rate of one in 200,000 doses. In Japan, each venue is supposed to deal with anaphylaxis quickly when it happens. If the vaccination leaves any negative impacts on your body, the local municipality will pay for your medical expenses.

N4) The human body has a mechanism to develop resistance ,once infected with a virus or bacteria, to protect itself from the same virus or bacteria. This process of building the resistance is known as “becoming immune.”

N5) Vaccination uses this mechanism of building resistance by creating a similar situation as being infected by a virus or bacteria. Vaccines are carefully designed to minimize negative effects; however, side effects, which are similar to the actual symptoms of infection, are inevitable. Vaccines are used based on the view that the advantage of developing resistance is more significant than the disadvantage of side effects.

Source: 厚生労働省 「新型コロナワクチンについてのQ&A　安全性と副反応」 https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/0000121431_00222.html#009