Japan to secure COVID vaccines for 20,000 more Olympic workers

When will I get my vaccine? is this what I get after working and paying taxes here for more than thirty years. Used and discarded.

@Dr.Lucifer

If you are here since more than 30 years, means you are in a similar age like me.

And that means that your turn for the vaccine will come soon.

Dont worry!

I guess probably latest September.

I will get mine at my company a little bit earlier, but the health responsible person said that people in my / our age can get their vaccine latest this fall in a hospital.

Just be patient a little bit.

It will be IMPOSSSIBLE to administer the 2nd shot before the games are to start, bloody idiots!

@Monty

Why defend an obvious failure?

I have also been here over 30 year, still no little paper so I can try and get an appointment to get vaccinated.

If the Olympics people can get it this fast and supposedly the mass vaccination centres are missing people then why was the earliest first shot appointment for my children's mid 90s grandparents not until mid July?

There is one thing to call something Japan bashing as many here claim any criticism of The Jgov is and then there is legitimate calling out total failure, mismanagement and wrong priorities.

This is a situation where it is perfectly legitimate to say the Jgov has totally messed things and priorities up.

And people need to acknowledge they government here is totally in the wrong.

This are 20k more doses (and people delivering them) that could be protecting people that really need them to avoid important risks.

Japan started inoculating the country's Olympic athletes on June 1. The IOC has said 75 percent of prospective Olympic and Paralympic village residents have either already been vaccinated or are scheduled to be vaccinated, with the figure set to rise to over 80 percent when the games start.

Hold on, 75%? In just two weeks? What is up with that rapid pace? Why can’t they do that with the general population?

@Antiquesaving

Yes, basically I agree with you.

But Me, you, Dr.Lucifer and some other posters here are living here already many many years.

So we know how things are going on here in Japan.

We spend half of our lives already here, and we (at least in my case) understand that Japan is different than other countries.

Things here are running different, things here are handeled different.

Just 3 weeks ago, I thought I will get my vaccine probably end of the year or beginning next year

And then, suddenly things changed drastically.

My parents in law got already their first shot at a hospital here in Tokyo, and in 2 weeks they got their second shot. And it was so easy.

And a few days ago I could apply for my 2 shots at my company, which starts vaccine the employees beginning of July.

You know what I mean?

Sometimes in Japan things looks completely hopeless, but then suddenly things turn to its best.

But that is Japan.

But I don't need to tell you that...because you are living here since many years and know that.

I read all your post about your parents in law in their 90s who are still waiting for their vaccines.

Of course that is very dissapointing and depressing.

But what I want to say to you and Dr. Lucifer is, just be patient.

Things will turn out to its best, also for you and your parents in law.

@Monty

I know what you are trying to say and normally I would agree but not this time because of the Olympic size elephant in the country.

All normal mess-ups are elevated to a higher level all because of this joke called the Olympics.

Here i am getting vegetables, the couple I buy from have signs all over their stall and truck against the Olympics and asking why the Olympics has priority for Vaccine over their disabled son!

These are 100% Japanese and their son has multiple issues but cannot yet get vaccinated, but healthy Athletes, officials and Media are jumping the queue getting Vaccinated before him.

The family pays their taxes not the foreign officials, Media, Athletes, etc...

Even if the vaccine is donated, administering the shots are being done on the tax payer's Yen using tax payer's resources.

This is not the usual Jgov mess it is a far greater mess than usual.

The usual mess I can handle but at this point it is all far to much!

 The IOC has said 75 percent of prospective Olympic and Paralympic village residents have either already been vaccinated or are scheduled to be vaccinated, with the figure set to rise to over 80 percent when the games start.

Huh? 75% have been vaccinated so far, and in one month, they can only get around 5% more completed?

Me thinks someone is playing funny with the numbers again!

It takes up to two months for experimental vaccines to become effective. No clinical trials for the Delta/India variant which is spreading at 80% more in the UK. Vaccinated people can still spread the virus.

propaganda.

Nice to know our taxes and health insurance payments are going to vaccinate people involved with the Olympics ahead of the elderly and others more in need at this time ....

Is the IOC paying for any of this?! Not like they don't have the $$ for it.

Talk about a slap in the face!

Japanoob - these vaccines are not taken away from the allocated batches for the elderly (and others in the general public). They’re an additional, privately acquired batch. In addition, there have been several reports of there being thousands of empty slots available at the mass vaccination sites, and many clinics have cancellation lists as well - if you have your vaccination coupon, you can go there (the mass vac centers will be opened to under 65 year olds within a few days). Admittedly, the problem now is the coupons: many (myself included) haven’t received them yet. There should be a system where these are not needed in the first place.

In any case - I see the Olympic staff getting their vaccines only as a good thing. It will lower the risk of cases, and lower the risk of them needing hospital care - which surely is for the benefit of everyone within this country.

@ Vince

You're correct in that vaccinating those associated with the Olympics can be a good thing but imho we shouldn't even have this on the table as the Olympics shouldn't be going ahead as per the wishes of most people in Japan so, to me, it's a mute point.

Any vaccines coming in to this country should be distributed to the elderly and those with underlying conditions etc. Personally I'm content to wait my turn as long as the line in front of me is made up of people more in need ( i.e. not people associated with the Olympics).

Any empty slots in the vaccination centers means a more effective distribution system needs to be put in place (e.g. maybe take them to the care homes for the elderly as is being done in Kyoto). It doesn't, to my mind at least, mean people associated with the Olympics should be given priority over the elderly etc.

@ Vince

But the doctors, equipment, etc .. diverted to giving these Olympic people are coming straight out of the tax payers pocket and as we keep hearing, Japan is having trouble finding enough doctors to give Vaccine to the population.

So how is it they can suddenly spare these doctors to Vaccinate the Olympic attendees?

The resources could go to better use.

It seems nothing will alter the "need" for slow bureaucracy here. Not even an increasingly dangerous global pandemic killing millions.

Is this a result of an aging society unable to adapt to the new world? If so the future does not look good.

MontyToday  07:14 am JST

@Dr.Lucifer

If you are here since more than 30 years, means you are in a similar age like me.

And that means that your turn for the vaccine will come soon.

Dont worry!

I guess probably latest September.

I will get mine at my company a little bit earlier, but the health responsible person said that people in my / our age can get their vaccine latest this fall in a hospital.

Just be patient a little bit.

Exactly how does the health person at your company know this? Stop believing everything you are told and ask more questions.

@Yubaru

Huh? 75% have been vaccinated so far, and in one month, they can only get around 5% more completed?

It’s the sneaky wording: “75% have have either already been vaccinated OR ARE SCHEDULED TO BE VACCINATED.”

Who wants to bet that most of the 75% has been simply scheduled, not vaccinated?