[Tips.17-English］Free COVID-19 Vaccination in Japan

Description

Text by text by Takeshi Nemoto, Miduho Morita(2021/01/26)　Translated by Miho S. Check and Narration Veven Cristbal(2021/01/29)

The vaccination against COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) has started in many countries and areas. Japan is planning to receive vaccines from several pharmaceutical companies. The Japanese government will purchase the vaccines, and all residents, including foreign residents, will be able to get them for free. Each person is usually supposed to get two shots of the vaccine, and vaccines for 157,000,000 people will be prepared in Japan.

The vaccination will begin in late February. All vaccines do not arrive at once but little by little. Hence, the order of priority was set as:

１）medical workers

２）senior citizens over 65 years old

３）people with pre-existing conditions and workers in a nursing home

４）others

You will get vaccinated in the municipality where your residence record (so-called 住民票・じゅうみんひょう in Japanese) exists. The municipality will send you the ticket for vaccination by mail before you get vaccinated. If you are under special circumstances, you can get vaccinated in a different municipality.

Some vaccines against COVID-19 are made with new methods. Thus, the negative effect on your body or the vaccine's effectiveness is not yet completely known. There is a possibility of the side-effect to be found after many people get the vaccine.

This vaccination is not mandatory. You can decide whether or not you will receive it. Please check the vaccine's information in Japan and abroad, and make sure you are satisfied with the result before getting vaccinated.

Source:

日本感染症学会

「COVID-19ワクチンに関する提言」

https://www.kansensho.or.jp/modules/guidelines/index.php?content_id=43

朝日新聞

「コロナ対応「後手」で暗雲　菅政権が期待する切り札」

https://digital.asahi.com/articles/ASP1L5KPJP1LUTFK00S.html?iref=pc_ss_date_article

全国民に行き渡る数量のワクチンを確保できるのは早くて６月と見込まれる。

厚生労働省

「新型コロナワクチンについてのQ&A」

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/0000121431_00222.html

読売新聞