“Slightly cold with a low-grade fever, recovered the next day” Pfizer vaccinated Japanese woman in the United States
米国では昨年１２月から、医療関係者や高齢者の新型コロナウイルスワクチン優先接種が始まっている。京都市出身で中西部ミシガン州に住む日本人女性（５７）が、医療関係者としてすでに２回の優先接種を終えた体験を語った。
In the United States, priority coronavirus vaccinations began December of last year for medical personnel and the elderly. A 57-year-old Japanese woman from Kyoto, who lives in Michigan in the Midwest, talked about her experience as a medical professional who had already completed two priority vaccinations.
歯科医院の受付で働く女性は保健所のウェブサイトから申し込み、１月１４日と２月４日に米ファイザー製ワクチンの接種を受けた。地元消防署のガレージを使うドライブスルー方式で、会場到着から５分ほどで上腕部への接種が完了した。
A woman working at the reception desk of a dental clinic applied from the health center website and was vaccinated with a Pfizer vaccine on January 14th and February 4th. The inoculation to the upper arm was administered 5 minutes after arriving at the garage of a local fire department drive-through.
「一気にプスッと刺す痛みは一瞬。でも副反応が出ないかどきどきした」
“At the moment of injection, there was a brief moment of pain. But I was more concerned about there being side effects. ”
日本での予防接種は、斜めに浅く針を刺す皮下注射が一般的。しかし今回のワクチンは、皮下組織の下にある筋肉まで針をまっすぐに深く刺す筋肉注射で投与される。海外では多くのワクチンでこの方法が採用されているといい、女性も違和感は覚えなかった。
In Japan, vaccinations are generally done by subcutaneous injection with a shallow needle. However, this vaccine is administered by an intramuscular injection that pierces the muscle beneath the subcutaneous tissue. This method is used in many vaccines overseas, and women who’ve taken it have not felt uncomfortable.
接種後は待機場所に車を移動し、１５分過ぎるのを待つ。急激なアレルギー反応が出るアナフィラキシーショックに備え、周囲を係員が巡回していた。
After inoculation, you drive to a waiting area and wait for 15 minutes. A staff member was patrolling the area in preparation for anyone who may experience an anaphylactic shock caused by a sudden allergic reaction.
副反応としては腕に筋肉痛のような痛みがあった。２回目の接種後の夜、わずかに寒けと微熱を感じたが翌日には回復したという。
As for side reactions, some experience what feels like muscle pain in the arm. The night after the second vaccination, she experienced a slight case of chills and a slight fever, but she recovered the next day.
同時に接種した米国人の同僚７人のうち、半数は発熱で解熱剤を服用した。職場では「副反応は心配だったがコロナに感染したくない」や、「接種したらマスクをしなくていいよね」といった会話を聞いた。ワクチンへの理解はひとそれぞれだと感じたという。
Of the seven American colleagues who were vaccinated at the same time, half took antipyretics due to fever. At work, I heard conversations such as “I was worried about side reactions, but I don’t want to get infected with corona” and “If I were to get the vaccination, it would be ok to then not wear a mask right?” She feels like everyone has a different understanding of the vaccine.
５０代以上の同僚は大半が接種済みか予約待ち。「接種しない考えの人は若手や妊娠中の数人。職場の４人にひとりほどで、思ったより少ない」と話す。
Most of her colleagues who are 50 or older have already been vaccinated or have a reservation for one. “Some young people and pregnant women are thinking about not getting the vaccination. Only bout one in four people in the workplace, which is less than I expected. ” she says.
コロナの影響で女性は１年以上も帰国できず、高齢の母親にも会えていない。「接種が進み、米国も日本も、感染が収束に向かってくれたら」と話した。
Due to the influence of the Coronavirus, she has been unable to return home for more than a year and unable to visit her elderly mother. “I hope that vaccinations will progress so that the infection rate will come under control in both the United States and Japan.” she says.
米国では人口の約１割の約３５８０万人が１回以上接種を終えたが、一般の人への接種はまだ始まっていない。供給の遅れが懸念される中、米政府は７月末までにほぼ全ての国民に、ファイザーと米モデルナ製のワクチンを供給するとの見通しを明らかにしている。（石川有紀）
In the United States, about 10% of the population, about 35.8 million people, have completed at least the first shot of the vaccination, but vaccinations to the general public have not yet begun. Amid concerns over supply delays, the US government forecasts almost all citizens can get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine by the end of July. (Yuki Ishikawa)
SOURCE: https://www.sankei.com/life/news/210213/lif2102130036-n1.html
[One of my recently translated articles (for practice)]