The spread of novel coronavirus infections is further widening across the nation. It is urgent to put vaccines, which are key to stemming the epidemic, to practical use.
More than 20 clinical trials of vaccines are being conducted around the world, and their development is in the final stage. A vaccine developed by major British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca PLC and Oxford University and another by U.S. biotechnology firm Moderna Inc. have entered the final stage of their clinical tests.
In Japan, a team led by start-up AnGes Inc. has also begun clinical trials and is aiming to put its vaccine to practical use next spring or later. The new method, which uses artificially synthesized DNA, is designed to help healthy people develop immunity within their bodies and prevent infections. It is expected that the vaccine's development will be sped up.
As the efficacy and safety of vaccines must be carefully evaluated, it usually takes several years to put them to practical use. It is hoped that the government will expedite the approval process as much as possible and approve the vaccines faster than usual, while giving consideration to safety.
There are huge costs involved in the development of vaccines, and in many cases they end in failure before they can be put to practical use. Therefore, pharmaceutical companies find it difficult to get started in actively developing vaccines. Even if they succeed, there is a possibility that the spread of an infectious disease will have been brought under control by then, which makes them hesitate to go ahead.
And even after a vaccine's development is complete, there is a fear that countries will try to take control of them for their exclusive use because the quantity of vaccines produced initially is limited. It is not easy to secure enough for all the people.
The government should financially support pharmaceutical companies that adopt new technologies and prepare and improve production lines. If a system is introduced to purchase a certain number of vaccines as a national stockpile, more companies could start mass production at an early stage.
In 2009, when a new strain of influenza broke out, the government decided on a policy to prioritize vaccinating not only medical workers but also pregnant women and children, who are at a higher risk of infection. This time also, it is important to consider the fact that elderly people are more likely to develop serious infections with the coronavirus, and discuss who will be prioritized for vaccinations in advance.
As more people get vaccinated, major side effects could become clear. In order to put vaccines to practical use as soon as possible, it is necessary to discuss with pharmaceutical companies how to deal with possible serious side effects.
In other countries, there is a strong awareness that vaccines are of great importance for national security. In addition to supporting domestic companies, it is hoped that the Japanese government will make efforts to promote import negotiations with foreign countries to secure sufficient doses.
It is also important to expedite efforts to develop and approve therapeutic drugs in parallel, on the assumption that not only could there be a shortage in the supply of vaccines, but also that the preventive effects of vaccines could be insufficient.
-- The original Japanese article appeared in The Yomiuri Shimbun on July 30, 2020.
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