LAVA, the hot yoga studio chain, has decided to implement a policy denying entry to individuals who have been inoculated with the replicon COVID-19 vaccine. This decision stems from the circulating rumors and fears surrounding the safety of the vaccine, despite efforts by Health Minister Takamaro Fukuoka to clarify that there is no scientific evidence of the vaccine's components being transmissible or causing harm to unvaccinated individuals.
In response to the concerns over the replicon vaccine, various establishments such as a dental clinic in Tokyo and a hair salon in Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture, have also restricted access to individuals who have taken the vaccine. The owner of the hair salon expressed her distrust in government and media sources for not highlighting potential drawbacks of COVID-19 vaccines, leading to her decision to bar replicon vaccine users from her store. The dental clinic's policy of asking replicon vaccine recipients to wait six months before returning is influenced by information sourced from the internet and books that highlight perceived risks associated with the vaccine.
Experts, including Professor Junichiro Nishi, have emphasized that the concerns surrounding the replicon vaccine may stem from misunderstanding terminologies like "self-amplifying." The Ministry of Health has attempted to reassure the public by explaining that the replicon vaccine does not transmit the actual virus, but rather increases mRNA levels in the body. Despite these clarifications, establishments and individuals continue to base their decisions on misinformation and a lack of comprehensive information about the replicon vaccine's safety and effectiveness. Consequently, there is a call for individuals with concerns about the vaccine to seek guidance from infectious disease and vaccine experts for accurate information.