The government plans to start occupational inoculation of the new coronavirus vaccine from the 21st of this month at workplaces and universities.


However, while many people are still uncertain about the timing of vaccination, travel agencies in Japan and the United States are selling and participating in a series of "vaccination tours" to receive vaccinations overseas.

The state of New York, USA, expanded the scope of vaccination last month in an attempt to bring back tourists who have decreased significantly over the new corona vaccine, even if there is no document certifying that they live or work in the state. I made it available.



As of 1st of this month, 25 of the 50 states in the United States are taking similar steps, according to a survey by U.S. NPOs, in the sandy beaches of Miami Beach, Southern Florida, and Alaska for the summer tourist season. Inoculation venues are also set up at airports in Miami.



Under these circumstances, "vaccination tours" for Japanese people who wish to be vaccinated overseas are being sold one after another.



Of these, six travel agencies in Tokyo and Hokkaido have begun selling inoculated tours in New York since the end of last month.



In each case, it is basically 3 nights and 5 days, and if you participate alone, it will be sold from 470,000 yen including the cost of attending the inoculation site and the virus test required to enter Japan, excluding the air ticket fee. doing.



Most of the people who apply for tours are business owners in their 30s and 40s who often travel abroad, so we anticipate that travel agencies will continue to have a certain amount of demand.

Participating man "I can't wait any longer"

A man in his 50s living in Tokyo took a "vaccination tour" with his wife in the middle of last month and went to New York for 3 nights and 5 days.



On the day I arrived in New York, I took a car arranged by a travel agency and went directly to the inoculation site at the subway station.



There is no need to make a reservation in advance at the venue, and when you show your passport and accept it, you will be guided to the vaccination booth and you will be vaccinated immediately.

I was vaccinated with a one-time Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which was free of charge.



After returning to Japan, he was required to wait at home for 14 days, so the man said he was working in isolation at home.



Men cite work benefits as a reason for rushing to get vaccinated in the United States.



A man runs a trading company that handles mechanical parts, and he has been on business trips overseas more than 10 times a year, but due to the influence of the new Corona, he can no longer go.



As a result, face-to-face meetings with overseas business partners became impossible, and business negotiations did not proceed smoothly.



In addition, many of our business partners have already been vaccinated, so in order to proceed with business with peace of mind, we thought that we needed to be vaccinated as soon as possible so that we could go on a business trip again.



The man said, "I wanted to get it in Japan, but I couldn't wait any longer because I didn't know when I could get it. I'm really disappointed that I couldn't get it in Japan." did.



The man has finished his waiting period at home this month and is now preparing for an overseas business trip.

Travel agency "many company owners"

Atto New York, a Japanese travel agency in New York, has been planning a "vaccination tour" for Japanese people since the middle of last month after receiving a consultation from a Japanese customer.



So far, about 200 people have participated in the tour, and many company owners are in their 40s and 50s.



The tour fee is approximately 50,000 yen in Japanese yen, including attendance from the hotel to the inoculation site, virus testing required for entry into Japan, and issuance of test certificates. Is not included.



On the 7th of this month, five Japanese people from Tokyo and other countries were vaccinated, and a man in his thirties said, "I'm relieved. I'm relieved that this reduces the possibility of infecting someone." I was talking.



Shogo Dobashi, CEO of a travel agency, said, "There are many inquiries about family members wanting to come to vaccination during the summer vacation," and said that the demand for tours may continue for the time being. ..

Those who wish to inoculate NY from each country

Many people from all over the world, including Latin America and Asia, come to the vaccination site in central New York to receive the vaccine.



Visitors can be vaccinated without reservation by presenting their passport, and choose from three types of vaccines, ▼ Moderna, ▼ Johnson & Johnson, and ▼ Pfizer and BioNTech jointly developed vaccines. can do.



A man from Peru, who came with his family, was vaccinated with Johnson & Johnson, which requires only one vaccination, and said, "I'm happy to be vaccinated. I feel like I'm finally able to breathe freely."



A Pakistani woman was vaccinated with a vaccine such as Pfizer, which cannot be given in her home country, and said, "I plan to stay in New York for about a month until the second vaccination is completed."



Japanese people were also seen at the venue, and a couple in their 50s from Tokyo said, "I had the opportunity to come to the United States for work, so I decided to get vaccinated. I often go abroad, so I got a vaccine. I thought I needed an inoculation. I'm really grateful. "

Expert "Self-responsibility required"

Nobuhiko Okabe, director of the Kawasaki City Institute of Health and Safety, who is an infectious disease expert and a member of the government subcommittee, said about the movement of Japanese people to be vaccinated overseas. I'm afraid I can't see the future, "he said, pointing out that there are some issues to consider.



First of all, regarding travel while the global infection has not converged, he said, "There is a risk in the trip itself. The infection situation in the United States is not much better than in Japan." Ring



In addition, regarding compensation for health damage caused by side reactions, in Japan there is a relief system in which the national government pays medical expenses etc. according to the "Vaccination Law", but it is not covered if vaccinated overseas. "We need to find out what we can do in the US if we have any symptoms, and what to do if we get sick on the plane. There is a stronger need for'self-responsibility'." I am calling attention.