It was found that only about 10% of the staff of quarantine stations such as airports, which are subject to priority vaccination with the new coronavirus vaccine, have completed two vaccinations.
Experts point out that "it is necessary to establish a system to inoculate people at high risk of infection as soon as possible."
Among quarantine officers working at airports and port quarantine stations, staff who come into contact with immigrants for inspections and explanations of procedures are at risk of infection, so priority vaccination is given along with medical staff. It is targeted.
As a result of investigating the vaccination status through quarantine stations nationwide, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare had completed the required two vaccinations as of May 27, out of the approximately 1,000 employees registered for priority vaccination. Was about 10%.
Even if the staff who received the vaccination once are combined, it is only about 40% of the total.
The inoculation is to be carried out by the local government where the quarantine station is located, and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare states that "the progress of inoculation depends on the situation of the local government, so it is difficult to unequivocally answer the reason why it has not been completed."
On the other hand, Professor Koji Wada of the International University of Health and Welfare, who is a member of the expert meeting of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and is familiar with the work of the quarantine station, said, With the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics coming up, it is necessary to pick up people with a high risk of infection related to quarantine, including private businesses, and establish a system to inoculate them as soon as possible. " ..
Under these circumstances, the government is coordinating with the government officials in charge of border measures, etc., to start vaccination by the end of this month as the vaccination in the workplace begins.
Quarantine Officer "Mechanism for prompt vaccination"
One of the quarantine officers in charge of quarantine operations at domestic airports anonymously interviewed NHK without being vaccinated.
Among them, "Many people who enter Japan have a positive test even if they are asymptomatic, or they develop the disease during the waiting period after entering Japan. I'm very worried that I haven't been vaccinated yet, even though I'm in the first position to come into contact with an infectious disease such as a mutant virus. I meet my family and friends considering that I may be infected. I feel like I'm trying to refrain from it, and I'm getting stressed, anxious, and tired while I can't see the end. "
Similarly, unvaccinated colleagues are saying, "Why can't I hit it yet?" Or "I want to hit it sooner."
The quarantine officer who responded to the interview said, "If the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics are held, the number of people entering the country will increase and the risk of contact with infected people will increase. I want people to create a system that allows them to receive vaccinations promptly. "