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Vaccine passport April 1st 14:14

The word "vaccine passport" is flying around the world.

It proves that it has been vaccinated against the new coronavirus, and issuance is spreading overseas.

Will the time come when you will need a "vaccine passport" as well as a passport when you go abroad?

How will Japan respond?

We explored whether it would be effective in balancing infection control and socio-economic activities.

(Kei Yamamasu)

Considered in Japan !? Vaccine passport

"I'm not thinking about using a vaccination certificate in Japan at the moment. However, if discussions on vaccine passports are going on internationally, I think Japan will have to consider it as well. I'm

House of Councilors Budget Committee on March 15th.

The "vaccine passport" mentioned in the answer by Minister Kono, who is in charge of vaccination.

It is a certificate issued officially to those who have been vaccinated against the new coronavirus.

Also called a "vaccination certificate".

It is said that more than 30 countries are already considering the introduction and introduction to help cross-border movement.

Israel “Weird”

Israel in the Middle East is said to be the most introduced.

According to "Our World in Data" operated by Oxford University in the United Kingdom, the number of vaccinations per 100 people is 114.7 (as of March 27).

It is said that the majority of the people have already completed two vaccinations.

He is a top runner in vaccination.

"Relive!"

On March 7, Prime Minister Netanyahu posted on his Twitter account how he was eating alongside the mayor of Jerusalem.

Since February, Israel has issued a vaccination certificate called the "Green Pass" to those who have completed two doses or who have recovered from the new corona infection.

Holders of the "Green Pass" are allowed to use the restaurant, use the gym and swimming pool, and participate in events.

Mika Yamamori, a lecturer at Tel Aviv University who has lived in Israel for 30 years and has already completed two vaccinations, points out that the "Green Pass" has led to the resumption of economic activity.

"Some young people thought,'We are young, so it's okay to get infected with corona,' and the motivation for vaccination was weak. There was a big publicity saying, "You can go too." If many people are vaccinated and most of them are vaccinated, they will be more motivated to go to restaurants and cafes and have parties. It was convenient to turn the economy around. Until now, I used to take a distance even when I met my family and friends, but recently I feel that the atmosphere has changed, such as hugging as before. ”

Vaccination in Israel Regarding the preventive effect of the vaccine developed by Pfizer and others, the public insurance agency in charge said, "The effectiveness of the vaccine 7 to 8 days after the second inoculation is currently estimated to be 93%. It's encouraging data to show. "

To resume EU traffic aiming for introduction

"By introducing this certificate, we want to help Member States restore safe, responsible and credible freedom of movement," said

EU-European Union Chairman Von der Leyen on March 17. Announced a bill to issue a "Digital Green Certificate" as a compatible inoculation certificate between member states.

The EU is preparing to introduce a "digital green certificate" by the summer holiday season in an attempt to help rebuild the economy.

The certificate is issued by each member country and includes the name, date of birth, country of issue and identification number.

In addition to the type, frequency, and date of the inoculated vaccine, the proof of PCR test results and the date of positive test for those who have been infected are also recorded, and it is expected to play a role as antibody proof.

It is supposed to support QR code so that it can be displayed on smartphones.

Certificates are issued not only to member countries but also to long-term residents and short-term visitors from countries including Japan, and are expected to support cross-border traffic.

However, it is up to each member state to decide whether to ease border measures such as pre-arrival inspections and voluntary quarantine after entry by presenting the certificate.

"Certificate of inoculation" in Japan in the past

The idea of ​​using a vaccination certificate for immigration control is not really new.

Even today, as a measure against yellow fever, countries in the tropics of Africa and South America require vaccination certificates called "yellow cards" when entering the country or connecting flights.

In the past, the WHO = World Health Organization has been involved and international vaccination certificates have been used to prevent the worldwide spread of cholera.

In addition, a vaccination certificate was introduced as a measure against smallpox, but it was deleted the following year after being eradicated in 1980 due to the spread of vaccination.

Even in Japan, it was used to motivate vaccinations.

According to the materials of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, it is recorded that in 1997, in Okayama prefecture, in order to improve the inoculation rate of rubella vaccine, the inoculation certificate was requested to be submitted at the time of admission to kindergartens and elementary and junior high schools.

What to do in Japan?

How will the government respond?

As Minister Kono said at the beginning, he remains cautious about using it as proof of inoculation, such as using the "Go To Campaign" in Japan and making it a condition for participation in events.

Why?

Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Tamura explains:

"It is up to the individual to receive or not receive the vaccination, and the government must take measures to prevent any disadvantages caused by this."

Vaccination of the new corona is required by the revised Vaccination Law in Japan. ..

It is up to the individual to inoculate.

In addition, people under the age of 16 and pregnant women who do not have clinical trial data are excluded, and some people cannot be vaccinated due to health reasons such as chronic illness.

The government is calling for vaccination at the discretion of the individual, taking into account the risk of side reactions, but the "vaccine passport" may give preferential treatment to vaccinated people and eliminate unvaccinated people. Some people say, "Even if it is an ethical issue, we must operate it carefully."

Opposition parties have also pointed out that it may create an atmosphere in which people who do not want to be vaccinated are treated disadvantageously.

Is there any obstacle to overseas traffic?

But the world doesn't wait.

It is expected that more and more countries will be asked to present when entering or leaving the country.

The IATA = International Air Transport Association, which has about 290 airlines around the world, uses a smartphone app to check vaccinations and PCR test results at airport counters in order to facilitate boarding procedures for international passengers. We are going to proceed with a demonstration experiment to confirm.

The WHO has expressed a negative view on its use in mitigating border measures, saying that the effectiveness of the vaccine is still unknown in terms of infection control, but it is still.

If nothing is done, it may hinder the traffic of Japanese people.

Such concerns also arise.

For this reason, the government is preparing to issue an inoculation certificate that can be used as a "vaccine passport" by utilizing the "vaccine recording system" that will start full-scale operation from mid-April in accordance with the inoculation of elderly people. ..

The government is also considering using an app to show the results of PCR tests.

However, such a response is only to respond to international movements, and it is not assumed that the vaccination certificate issued in a foreign country will be used for immigration control in Japan.

Don't miss it, hurry up

Nomura Research Institute Executive Economist Takahide Kiuchi points out that the need for "vaccine passports" will increase further in the future, and Japan needs to keep up with the response.

"In Japan, the results of PCR tests are used as" negative proofs ", but I would like to certify the test results as necessary so that they will not be seen with white eyes when traveling to business or when returning to a rural area. Therefore, there is a need to use the vaccination certificate in the same way. ”

“ Since

we have been

vaccinated, the risk of infection is small. ” Since there are needs for the mechanism, the government needs to meet those needs. To do so, the mechanism must be prepared, and if it is shown on a smartphone, the application must be developed. In the EU, before summer. By the time you have a "vaccine passport", you have to be prepared to avoid being disadvantaged or mistreated only by travelers from Japan. "

Not the perfect tool

Is a "vaccine passport" really useful for both prevention of infection and socio-economic activities?

I asked an infectious disease expert.

Nobuhiko Okabe, director of the Kawasaki City Institute of Health and Safety, and also a member of the Special Advisor to the Cabinet.

He points out that it is necessary to consider the effect of the essential vaccine, its persistence, and the response to mutant viruses.

"Vaccines are not always 100% effective. Influenza vaccines are said to be 60-70% effective, but even so, vaccination can prevent aggravation or reduce the onset of the disease. When it comes to the form, "it's okay to have a passport" unless it is quite effective. "

And if you use a" vaccine passport, "it is essential to fully understand its limitations. Emphasize.

"I think the vaccine passport itself is a good tool, and shortening the quarantine period may be useful for business, study abroad, and tourism, but it must be recognized that it is not the perfect tool. Even if the effect is 90%, some people will get infected, so it will leak somewhere. If you do not use it while knowing what the meaning of "vaccine passport" is and how much it is, you can use it as a tool May be mistaken

Towards "Post Corona"

It's been a year since the infection of the new corona was confirmed, and with the advent of the vaccine, I feel that a ray of light is finally coming to light in the long struggle against the virus.

Under such circumstances, the movements of each country regarding "vaccine passports" have strong expectations for the resumption of socio-economic activities.

The number of vaccinations in Japan is 0.6 times per 100 people, which is still in the future.

What kind of society do you envision before vaccination?

What kind of tools are needed for that?

Looking ahead to the post-corona, it seems necessary to hurry to consider.

#Digging into "vaccine" in NHK political magazine article

Kei Yamamasu, a

political

editor,

joined the

station in

2009.

After working at the Aomori Bureau, became a political department.

After interviewing the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the opposition party, and the Ministry of Defense, he has been in charge of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare since September last year.