Japan considers creating waiting lists for COVID-19 vaccine: Kono

Kono also cast doubt on the idea of using COVID-19 vaccine certification for official purposes, including using it as a kind of vaccine passport to permit international travel, saying to do so would discriminate against those who cannot be inoculated... because of allergy.

Oh, for crying out loud. What an insane idea. Let's have a medical expert, and not a politician, in charge of this program.

Put all the Nonstop about the japanese government complaining people at the end of the waiting list!

I'd say Kono is misinformed if he doesn't think the endgame of all of this is not a covid passport / Digital ID. More likely they are floating trial balloons to test public opinion.

The waiting list is a good idea. I’ll get my name on as many as I can.

"We should prioritize not wasting vaccines, rather than sticking to the priority order"

Now that is the most sensible idea to come out of the government this whole pandemic.

Surely, covid passports will be necessary for international travel and a requirement during The Olympics?

I cannot believe the incompetence of these men. I had thought that Mr. Kono was a cut above the rest, being educated abroad and seemingly a man with a proper dose of common sense.

Sadly I was mistaken.

If the Japanese people were not as sensible and smart as they are regarding safety the death toll would be a lot higher than it is with these guys in charge.

The criteria for travel should not be a vaccination but proof of non infection.

If the virus is still viable after several years then maybe a rethink is needed

He does know 46% of people don’t trust them right?

The idea of a waiting list is fine.

There is no point scheduling appointments for people who won't turn up because they don't want the vaccine.

A waiting list for the waiting list? I am confused.

@JeffLee

It has to be a politician. Nobody is better at stalling, taking bribes from big corporations and sending ambiguous and meaningless messages to the public.

The criteria for travel should not be a vaccination but proof of non infection.

One can be infected, yet show negative on tests upon liftoff, while becoming contagious during the flight.

Vaccinations greatly reduce the risk of that.

If you want to be free to not take a vaccine, then you don't also get the right to potentially infect the rest of us, so that you can share the conveniences of the rest of us.

If the vaccines are so safe as the politicians claim them to be, then let them be the first to get vaccinated to prove the drugs’ safety.

If the vaccines are so safe as the politicians claim them to be, then let them be the first to get vaccinated to prove the drugs’ safety.

The politicians don't claim they're safe, the boards that clear vaccines in each country do. The politicians follow the scientists lead.

Sadly yet again I feel the whole vaccination situation is going to balloon into a bureaucratic mess.

Vaccine Czar Kono?

C'mon man!

Waiting lists will be a good idea, if use to ensure all spare vaccines are used. This is how my mother received her first dose. She was a month away from her 80th birthday and got a call late afternoon.

I cannot understand how we can start travelling again without some form of vaccine passport. Testing people every time they reach an airport or port surely will not work for ever.

I don't think the international community will introduce a system preventing people from doing something unless they get shots

Wrong, Israel already has a national vaccine passport, only those who are vaccinated can go to the gym, movie theaters, etc.

In the U.S. when entering the country you can skip quarantine if you have proof you've been vaccinated.

Frankly Japan would be better off if people would speak up about those who are not wearing a mask.

I see those guys everyday and no-one says anything when they walk around the store like there's no COVID and if I say something all of a sudden I am the one who looks bad.

Go figure.

Again I can't believe they are just now talking about this. It should already have been decided.

"If the Japanese people were not as sensible and smart as they are regarding safety the death toll would be a lot higher than it is with these guys in charge."

With a death toll of 500,000 and using your logic, westerns are not sensible and stupid. Maybe you are correct.

"The politicians don't claim they're safe, the boards that clear vaccines in each country do. The politicians follow the scientists lead."

Not in Japan. The Ministry of Health runs the National Committee of Innoculations and Vaccinations. Not a single doctor or scientist on the Committee. All of the members are Diet members. 6 from lower chamber and 6 from upper chamber. Their 2 advisers are the president of Tokyo University Medical College (he has a PhD in Education) and the president of Kyoto University (PhD not in medicine but engineering).

If we do not turn to get the shot, what will happen? A second chance, or will we have to be the victim of all that sanitary circus and not be able to travel ?

When it will be confirmed that like the flu it must be a regular shot, all those ideas of vaccine passport will disappear. But nothing new with that idea, it is already exist for the yellow fever. Some countries will refuse the entry without the certificate

If the vaccines are so safe as the politicians claim them to be, then let them be the first to get vaccinated to prove the drugs’ safety.

Yeah, great idea. I'm sure nobody would complain that they're skipping the line.

Better than wasting the defrosted vaccines on those anti vaxxers and it going to waste. Plenty of those on this website.

> One can be infected, yet show negative on tests upon liftoff, while becoming contagious during the flight.

Vaccinations greatly reduce the risk of that.

If you want to be free to not take a vaccine, then you don't also get the right to potentially infect the rest of us, so that you can share the conveniences of the rest of us.

The possibility of that happening is remote.

In addition, the knowledge and precautions in place to prevent transmission are much higher than before.

The air on the plane is also filtered to 99.7%

I will wear a mask and a shield for most of my time on the plane except eating.

So, your fears are not really based on logic.

I also travel in business class for most flights so I am able to practise social distancing-I doubt, I am at (even if infected) risk to anyone.

""I don't think the international community will introduce a system preventing people from doing something unless they get shots,"

Well, if we go on historical precedent, Japan would be the country demanding others have said passport before coming to Japan for work or even travel, but then act shocked when they are asked to produce the same.

The possibility of that happening is remote.

And if everyone is vaccinated, it’s as close to non-existent as you can get.

I also travel in business class for most flights so I am able to practise social distancing-I doubt, I am at (even if infected) risk to anyone.

It must be frustrating to know that they’re not going to let you on planes if you’re not vaccinated, especially since you’ll find very few people have any sympathy.

@Kutispu: I do business and first also. Spacing much better.

@Strangerland

Kono noted that vaccinations may be effective in preventing the onset and progression of COVID-19 but are not said to prevent the infection itself.

It seems that Japanese politicians do not agree with your opinion there.

Unless you have some political power then your opinion is just that.

It must be frustrating to know that they’re not going to let you on planes if you’re not vaccinated, especially since you’ll find very few people have any sympathy

I’ll be taking several intercontinental flights next month-I’ll let you know...

It seems that Japanese politicians do not agree with your opinion there.

Um, how are a bunch of vaccinated people going to spread it to other vaccinated people?

Anyone trying to argue the risk of transmission between people on a plane who are all vaccinated is the same as that on a plane where some people are unvaccinated are arguing a losing argument.

@kurisupisu

I’ll be taking several intercontinental flights next month

I envy you Man!

I guess these flights are for business.

My company said that they will resume my business trips probably after August.

But a vaccine is mandatory for my company.

If I don't take the vaccine, I am not allowed to fly overseas for business.

> Anyone trying to argue the risk of transmission between people on a plane who are all vaccinated is the same as that on a plane where some people are unvaccinated are arguing a losing argument.

I agree.

I think they should have lists of people who say "Someone else can go first. I'll wait, thanks."

Then maybe they can get these shots out ASAP to those who seriously need one.

In fact, Kono hopes it will be an international vaccine passport.

So the foreigners coming here will be vaccinated and protect the Japanese population.