Japan to introduce 'vaccine passports' for international travel

So, will we international students finally be able to enter japan (after one year)? What are your sensations from Japan?

requiring certification of vaccination could lead to discrimination against people unable or unwilling to receive shots

As well as those who do not have a smartphone, including kids, elderly, the poor, and Luddites like me.

The passports are expected to be in the form of a smartphone app

And for those like myself without a smartphone?

And for those like myself without a smartphone?

You will have the option to receive a hard copy of the passport sent by carrier pigeon, or fax.

Youll then be required to take the hard copy to the city office to have it officially hankoed and attached to a copy of your jyuminho.

...So maybe time to consider getting a smartphone.

The vaccine passport issue isn’t as simple as people may believe. Japan needs to vaccinate it’s population first. Will they recognise vaccines given in other countries, or vaccines not used it Japan? Will my UK administered Astra Zeneca vaccines be accepted? Japan has refused to licence the AZ vaccine, so it may not accept people who have been vaccinated with it.

What are your sensations from Japan?

I would imagine its unlikely to start allowing fully vaccinated people to enter until after the Olympic finish. (Paralympic end in early September).

I would also imagine that Japan will only allow people vaccinated with a vaccine that is approved by Japan (the EU is planning to do this with tourists from the US this summer). Only the Pfizer one is approved right now, and the Moderna one is probably next. Its unlikely the Chinese or Russian vaccines will ever be approved in Japan.

Have to laugh! It seems somewhat premature to be talking about vaccine passports when practically none of us are anywhere near getting vaccinated!

I still don't understand how this works. How does an app prove that you have been vaccinated?

Also, I agree with the posters above passengers who don't have smartphones or who don't know how to download apps. Surely, some sort of stamp from a doctor or clinic stamped on your passport page would be better, stating that you have been vaccinated or that you are unable to be vaccinated because of some underlying medical condition.

So if the vaccine passport will be required for travel to Japan, will it then be necessary for Olympic athletes, family, coaches, trainers, IOC staff, int'l delegations, sponsors, and media?

If you mentioned "vaccine passports" a year ago, you were called a conspiracy theorist.

So, does this mean that I will never be able to travel because I don't want to be a "testing" subject for a vaccine that was made in a few months?

As an IT professional, app developer, I can tell you that every country using a different app, with a different language etc will NOT work. There needs to be ONE app that is used globally. You can't say it can't be done because looks a apps like Itunes, Netflix, Spotify, etc.

Look what happen to the COVID19 tracing app in Japan. The Gov't spent BILLIONS on a App, that didn't even work and was abandoned. I think that Japan should not take the lead on a global app for use. Let the people in Silicon Valley make it, and sell the rights to other countries.

Anyone can generate or copy a QR code hopefully this is thought out.

Wow, I feel like some of you are missing the point. 99% of the population has smartphones. So, for those people who have them, having a proof of vaccine QR code to scan at the airport will speed up processing of entries and exits. Just like a QR code plane ticket does for checking into your flights or going to a website. It's just a system for speed and efficiency, so you don't have these 3-5 hour waits at the airports anymore. Not to mention people getting rejected for having the incorrect paperwork.

Nowhere in the article does it say paper versions of vaccination proof will be denied. So if you prefer carrying loads of paper and waiting in long lines while staff and you shuffle through it after a long flight, I'm sure that will still be an option. Not to mention if you're travelling internationally, the language barriers if there is a problem with the paperwork.

And if you don't or can't get the vaccine, I'm sure you will be subjected to the usual quarantine and testing procedures.

Let the people in Silicon Valley make it, and sell the rights to other countries.

What kind of joke is that, you think Silicon Valley is the only place in the world with competent technologists?

How ironic.

They talk about vaccine passports before they can even properly organize their own vaccine rollout.

99% of the population has smartphones. 

On earth? This is for anyone traveling to/from Japan.

How about kids? I'd say 99% of kids in Japan under 8 do not have a smartphone.

How about the elderly? I'd say maybe 50% of those over 75 do not have a smartphone and/or can effectively download apps.

How about the blind?

Or someone with a 3G phone (network no longer possible in Japan)?

Or a 5G Huawei, which is banned in Japan?

Nowhere in the article does it say paper versions of vaccination proof will be denied.

Well, anyone who can currently enter Japan (citizens and established residents) MUST download 3 apps on their smartphone to enter the country. No paper possible for those tracking apps. And if you do not have a smartphone, you must rent one. This is official.

Many international "students" are from places where the virus is out of control, so hopefully the answer is 'no'.

The overwhelming majority of international students who study in Japan are from China, Taiwan, South Korea and Vietnam. The virus has been brought under control in all of those places much better than it has in Japan.

Anyone can generate or copy a QR code hopefully this is thought out.

And where would they get the information to embed in the QR code?

Your comment is like saying "passwords are dangerous, hopefully they're thought out".

So, will we international students finally be able to enter japan (after one year)? What are your sensations from Japan?

There are already many international students here now, and came in during the pandemic. Just like some countries are accepting international students from Japan as well.

Not highly publicized, but it is happening. Know a bunch of college students who are going to, or have went to study abroad from here, to Canada, US, Malta, of all places, Singapore, and others.

It costs a hell of a lot of money, $2000.00 (CD) for 3 days of quarantine in a dedicated facility, then 11 days in their home-stay location, or if they dont have one, in a hotel designated by the government.

Singapore requires 3 PCR tests, one 72 hours prior to departure, one directly on arrival, and one at about the 11th day of quarantine, at a designated hotel. (Singapore is using 5 star hotels for the "Stay at Home Notice", all at a cost of about $2,000.00 (SD) for the quarantine, $300.00 for the two PCR tests, and about 20,000 yen, (down here) for a PCR test at a government authorized clinic, there are only two on Okinawa!

THEN when they come back they have to quarantine in Japan for two weeks, and by comparison, quarantine in Japan is a joke. Two students, quarantined together, could go out to the local supermarket or conbini, but could not use any public transportation, and there was ZERO follow up or checking by authorities.

Point is, the reverse is happening now as well.

As an IT professional, app developer, I can tell you that every country using a different app, with a different language etc will NOT work.

Quite the blanket statement there. If you're an IT professional, and an app developer, you would know that as long as the apps adhere to a common standard, it's not a problem if each country uses a different app to implement that standard.

There needs to be ONE app that is used globally.

Your comment is like saying "If everyone uses different web browsers, the internet will NEVER work. Everyone has to use the same browser".

This might happen after Japan has meetings upon meetings with a lot of urging and aiming and suggesting and more meetings. The list goes on.

"Japan to introduce 'vaccine passports' for international travel"

If you mentioned "vaccine passports" a year ago, you were called a conspiracy theorist.

Exactly this! And yet, look how easily it's forced upon us because most people have no capacity to even question authority.

Things have constantly changing and been so complicated. When plans suddenly affected but still hope to come to your beautiful country!

"Kono had previously voiced concern that requiring certification of vaccination could lead to discrimination against people unable or unwilling to receive shots due to potential allergic reactions or side effects.

To allay such worries, the passports will also list negative results from polymerase chain reaction and antigen tests, the sources said."

General Question:

When everything returns to normal, if someone wants to vacation in Japan for one to two weeks , will they be REQUIRED to get this Covid Vaccine?? In other words, does this mean that someone who does not get this Covid Vaccine is going to be banned for eternity from visiting Japan (as well as other Countries in the Far East such as Mainland China or Taiwan)?? I need absolute clarification on this.

Thank you very much.

Can't they make these vaccine passports available in paper/plastic form like a standard passport? People who don't want to or can't use smartphones shouldn't be forced to get one just for this app.

It is ridiculous that access to a country will be dependent on having installed an app.

Even if you own a smartphone, having access to the walled garden app stores requires one to agree to whatever arbitrary terms & privacy conditions apple or Google may demand. In the case of google, we have a company that is almost consistently being pulled in front of one court or another for inappropriately collecting user data. It is currently being sued by the US government for anticompetitive behaviour. Both companies have been criticised by the US government for anticompetitive behaviour associated with their app stores. Both companies are repeatedly criticised by governments for failure to pay reasonable amounts of tax.

And yet, here we are being told that we MUST use one of these two companies. We MUST entrench this duopoly. There is no reason this could not be implemented with a website which would be accessible to basically all devices since the 90's or even just a stamp in a passport which doesnt need charging. This failure to use the best tool for the job, in the interest of appearing to be keeping up with the times would be laughable were it not so depressing.

The main issue is that passports should not be used to replace strict testing and isolation, the protection must still be based on this, with the passports as an accessory tool to facilitate things.

So, does this mean that I will never be able to travel because I don't want to be a "testing" subject for a vaccine that was made in a few months?

Making irrational decisions about the much safer vaccine and instead choosing to risk the infection comes with consequences. Also, the vaccine is the product of a development process that took more than 10 years

Vaccine passports but nobody vaccinated. Good job J Gov.

 and Luddites like me

You're not exactly a luddite since you're using a computer to post your message. My goodness, you have a PC but refuse to get a smartphone?!

Except, no.

3 is Nepal with a serious COVID problem:

China 39.9%

Vietnam 23.5%

Nepal 8.4%

https://thepienews.com/news/japan-jasso-report/

So "only" over 70% are from China, Vietnam, South Korea and Taiwan? I don't think my comment is wrong. "Overwhelming majority" is subjective. If it makes you feel better, let's say a little over 70% of international students who study in Japan are from countries which have brought the virus under control better in the case of South Korea or far better in the case of China, Taiwan and Vietnam than Japan has.

Japan blocking students coming from those countries is bizarre. Is it to save face to avoid the scene of those students choosing to stay away for another year?

It is about control , its about tracking you, its about everything except what they are telling you and what you are believing

If these V-PPorts were pieces of paper Japan could order a couple hundred & be ""good"" for the foreseeable future...............................sadly

Vaccine passports are probably a good idea, but come with a real hornets' nest of issues. Which vaccines get recognized? The Chinese one? The Russian one? This is already an issue for people in Hong Kong who are choosing between the Chinese vaccine and Western ones depending on where they need to travel.

It is about control , its about tracking you,

For what purposes, exactly? And who's doing the "tracking"?

its about everything except what they are telling you and what you are believing

So you mean the vaccines aren't effective against corona at all? Or that corona doesn't even exist?

Why can't countries utilize a more low-tech method which is already available and has been used for decades...the WHO International Vaccine Certificate yellow books?

How can you implement such a thing if you're unwilling to vaccinate your population?

Go ahead, require a vaccine passport. Please do.

But make sure everyone as access to the vaccine.

I'd wait in line for hours... hell I'd camp out for a vaccine. I want one desperately but I don't have that choice because I happen to live in Japan.

Give me a vaccine and then require whatever you want.

Great something few if any will be able to use seeing so few have been vaccinated and it doesn't look like that will change any time soon.

My mother-in-law works as a caregiver in a prefectural elderly care home.

Not one person working there has been vaccinated, not the administration nor the staff have been told anything about if or when they will be vaccinated they haven't been told if or when the residents will be vaccinated but hey Japanese will have a vaccine passport.

@NAM...what makes you think a vaccine passport on your phone will "speed things up" at an international arrival point? You're giving waaaay too much credit to the brainless government functionaries that are put in charge of these things. Standing in an additional line BEFORE you get to the customs and immigration lines is what I'm envisioning.

My goodness, you have a PC but refuse to get a smartphone?!

Actually I know plenty of people with a PC and no smartphone.

Many are older ( like my children's grandparents ) that just don't see the need, I have friends that are visually disabled and a smartphone is totally useless for them but the majority are Japanese men that know if they have a smartphone their companies will never let them be and expect them to be available to reply/work after hours, on holidays, weekends, etc..

Sadly in many cases not having a smartphone is the only way to be left alone when not working.

And for those like myself without a smartphone?

Get one if you want to travel. Dont forget to get a passport as well, in addition to sufficient funds, relevant visas, roundtrip airline ticket with your named spelled exactly as your passport, etc. No, such requirements are not "discrimination" as international travel is a privilege, not a right.

you think Silicon Valley is the only place in the world with competent technologists?

Probably. The apps from JAL, my Japanese bank, JR and Japanese car rental agency are the stuff of nightmares.

Get one if you want to travel. Dont forget to get a passport as well, in addition to sufficient funds, relevant visas, roundtrip airline ticket with your named spelled exactly as your passport, etc. No, such requirements are not "discrimination" as international travel is a privilege, not a right.

A passport, you pay one small fee for 10 years of use no monthly charge, about ¥10,000 one in 10 years.

Few relevant visas as most in Japan travel under the visa waiver program so no costs. Airplane tickets again one time fee, etc...

Now lets see about smartphones, a cheap one will run about ¥30,000 if you want one that will get updates and work for at least 2 years, then their are the monthly fees which cand range from ¥1,000 a month to ¥10,000 and the ¥1,000 will mostly not include data which will be needed to work the app.

But nice try.

1% of population vaccinated and they want vacpassport. This is the typical bureaucrat and pol disconnect that runs this place. What a comedy of errors. Please keep it up and keep us laughing.

So, does this mean that I will never be able to travel because I don't want to be a "testing" subject for a vaccine that was made in a few months?

No. At some point, you'll consider one of the vaccines safe and get vaccinated. Then you'll be able to travel internationally with FEWER HASSLES. Nobody is suggesting that you cannot travel, just that you will have fewer hassles by proving vaccination.

For example, Costa Rica required travelers to get $50K of travel insurance with medical coverage last year. Extended stay insurance was required too. Both these requirements still exist today. They didn't want visitors coming who wouldn't be able to pay for medical care, if they got sick in CR and needed to be quarantines, would be able to pay. Costa Rica may say that people with a COVID passport (proof of vaccination) don't need that insurance coverage in the future. Currently, they don't require a COVID test to enter, but most US airlines flying internationally do require negative COVID test before entering the US. Only 3 types of tests are valid.

Vaccination protects you from me, but it doesn't protect me from you if I'm not vaccinated too.

A new CDC report out today on Pfizer and Moderna says that fully vaccinated over 65 yr old people have a 94% reduction in hospitalizations.

Quick image of the results: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/figures/mm7018e1-F-medium.gif

Ref: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7018e1.htm?s_cid=mm7018e1_e&ACSTrackingID=usCDC_921-DM55819&ACSTrackingLabel=MMWR%20Early%20Release%20-%20Vol.%2070%2C%20April%2028%2C%202021&deliveryName=usCDC_921-DM55819

Again, nowhere in the article does it say that paper proof of vaccines won't be recognized. I'm certain they will be, considering children, the visually impaired, etc that everyone mentioned and made good points about.

But, it's just a QR code for speed and efficiency, to make things standard. For example, if you travel to Japan right now you need a specific MoFA form to prove you've been tested within 72 hours of your flight, and not 3 minutes too over that. Not to mention it needs to be signed by the doctor, not a nurse or processing staff, and it has to say "negative" and not "undetected" or something else. If most countries are strict about this kind of paperwork, and each country comes up with it's own rules and regulations about the vaccines (which are approved, when, etc.) then an app is a really easy convenient way to store all that info.

Not to mention being able to press a button and have the info translated in the language of your choice.

None of the other articles I've read have said anything about denying people with physical paperwork. They're just trying to introduce a faster easier system.

Why can't the Japanese government approve the Russian and Chinese vaccines along with Moderna and give us a choice of which to take? I don't want to take the Pfizer vaccine!!! It is the worst and most expensive of the four!

Why can't the Japanese government approve the Russian and Chinese vaccines along with Moderna and give us a choice of which to take?

Because the makers have not applied for approval? if they refuse to bring their vaccines to Japan then it is hardly Japan's fault. Then again, maybe being asked to provide the full set of data to prove safety and efficacy was too much.

Also, according to the Chinese their vaccine is much worse than mRNA based ones.

Looks like the "right-wing conspiracy theory" is coming to pass after all. But given the size of building resistance to vaccine passports overseas, the whole nefarious project could fall flat despite the intentions of crooked governments drunk on power while pretending to act in our best interests.

antiquesaving

A cheap one will run about ¥30,000 if you want one that will get updates and work for at least 2 years

Nope. I bought my new Umidigi, exclusively for international travel, from Amazon for 15,000 yen a year and a half ago, and it still runs all the same apps as my 100,000 yen Docomo LGv30, purchased shortly beforehand, with no noticeable speed differences.

There are cheaper models now, too.

https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/UMIDIGI-A7S-SIM-Free-Smartphone-Quad-core/dp/B08ZHY9V6H/ref=sr_1_13?dchild=1&keywords=umidigi&qid=1619660234&sr=8-13

But nice try.

I don't oppose the vax passport plan. But beware and stay vigilant of possible forgery.

Booming market for fake COVID-19 vaccine passports sparks alarm

https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-vaccine-passports-idUSL8N2M05AB

Because the makers have not applied for approval? 

Japan signed contracts with Pfizer , Astra Zeneca and Moderna long before the approval applications.

I think this has more to do with trust and national security then paperwork requirements.

Thinking AZ won't happen, If Pfizer and Moderna don't deliver or other problems the Japanese stance towards other options I am sure will change.

As an IT professional, app developer, I can tell you

Not really ! It doesn't have to be a centralised database. The passport details + vaccination status can be stored wherever the QR points . If the passport bit of response matches your passport , this is fine.

But I do see you point , it has to be done right and by smarter people .

I don't oppose the vax passport plan. But beware and stay vigilant of possible forgery

I hope the forgery is good and works.

For the Japanese people this might be the only way to see Europe again.

How ironic.

They talk about vaccine passports before they can even properly organize their own vaccine rollout.

Not ironic. The response to the virus from governments around the world has, from the start, largely been more about how to increase government power and reach than it was about public health. Vaccine passports are the power mechanism, so of course government officials think of that first. The passport idea was floated in other countries before vaccines became available, too.

Vaccine passports, electronic payment systems(cashless society)my number card.

All reeks of authoritarianism.

Big brother is watching!

Let's open the Pandora Box of the State knowing everything about you and your vaccine and build that database, today for traveling, tomorrow for having a bank account, a job, going to a restaurant, taking public transports, health Insurance and so on and that decision is motivated by what exactly? Oh wai, pressure Lobby (guess we do not need to be Sherlock Holmes to have an idea who's money is behind this and who will benefit of it) and EU agencies which are probably the most corrupted when it came to health and the most ready to take out your freedom.

will we international students finally be able to enter japan (after one year)? What are your sensations from Japan?

The student age group will be the last to get vaccinated..so wait at-least for another 5-6 months..

I've had a government-issued vaccination book since the 1970s, covered with clinic stamps and signatures, batch numbers and dates, for smallpox, yellow fever, rabies, Hep B, tetanus, cholera, meningitis, polio, typhoid, and a few others. Hard-wearing, quality paper, written in multiple languages, it's got me on to planes and ships, and in and out of many countries around the world. Free of charge too!

another restriction in freedom

welcome 1984

Will they recognise vaccines given in other countries, or vaccines not used it Japan? Will my UK administered Astra Zeneca vaccines be accepted? Japan has refused to licence the AZ vaccine, so it may not accept people who have been vaccinated with it.

Japan does not manufacture any COVID vaccine, the vaccine database is not local but global..anyone who has received any approved vaccine will be accepted anywhere requiring vaccination proof.

Until now, we use to know the segregation by the color of your skin (sorry that bus/plane/restaurant is for white people only) and humanity fought against this because you cannot change the color of your skin but some are now proposing to install an official similar segregation by the vaccine, based on if you have or not injected in your blood stream a company branded product with no studies on long term effect and on which the company behind the product refused to take any responsibility in case of trouble?This time we have choice so I can't understand how people can applaud such of proposition, it seems good only to the one who is having a financial/monetary benefit of it.

The vaccine passport sounds nice, provided this passport is recognized internationally. But before the passport you need the vaccine. So far there are few vaccinations in Japan. It is like an orchestra without musicians.

Meanwhile, there are Permanent Residents apparently still stuck outside Japan (see above). It would be nice if they would see allowed back in--if that hasn't happened already.

@zichi

I guess you didn't get the point!

Guess you haven't read about the new 20GB data plans from Docomo/AU/Softbank. 20GB of DATA for ¥2400. Unlimited calls for an additional ¥1,500. Unlimited 5 min calls for an additional ¥500. Max is now about ¥4,000 with unlimited calls.

Now let's see ¥2,400 a month times 12 months so ¥28,800 a year every year.

Now a passport is about ¥10,000 for 10 years that is ¥1,000 a year at this moment to travel.

So if my visually disabled friends want to travel if my children's grandparents they now only need a passport.

But now under this they will need to pay for a smartphone they will not or cannot use in the case of my visually disabled friends. And pay ¥28,800 a year for a device they will never use or aga6 be able to use for the visually disabled.

Now if you think this is so reasonable, I can provide you with contacts and you can provide them with these unnecessary devices at your expense.

How does that sound?

Apps an everything moving online seems great for us fully able bodied people and somewhat younger.

But there is a portion of our society that due to physical disabilities cannot use these devices either they have no vision thus a touchscreen is impossible to use, or they have limited or no real mobility that would let them use these touchscreen devices.

Then we have the 30% elderly many of whom like my children's grandmother is far to old to understand these devices and only has a Galake ( old push button cellphone) which already confuses her enough.

An alternative must be made available for such people, but the more we seems to advance the technologically the more we seem to be leaving a greater portion of the most vulnerable behind.

If you mentioned "vaccine passports" a year ago, you were called a conspiracy theorist.

When someone mentioned "vaccine passports" a year ago, I said "great idea".

And still do.

Why can't the Japanese government approve the Russian and Chinese vaccines along with Moderna and give us a choice of which to take?

You're free to travel to Russia and take the Sputnik V. Lord knows they can't get people in Russian to take it. Plenty of supply. Why aren't you going?

1% of population vaccinated and they want vacpassport. This is the typical bureaucrat and pol disconnect that runs this place. What a comedy of errors. Please keep it up and keep us laughing.

So what percentage of people should be vaccinated before start making plans on how things will operate as people become vaccinated? 20%? 70%? 99%?

Why can't the Japanese government approve the Russian and Chinese vaccines along with Moderna and give us a choice of which to take?

You'd have to trust the information coming out of Russia and China to trust their vaccines.

I certainly wouldn't. They've done this to themselves by spreading disinformation campaigns and propaganda. Now we can't believe them. Too bad for them, except that it's not too bad.

Because the makers have not applied for approval?

That is false. At least I know the government of China offered Japan the Sinopharm vaccine at a very reasonable cost but were rejected. Why??? In the only country that has administered 100k or more of all 4 of the major vaccines (Sputnik V, Sinopharm, Moderna and Pfizer), Hungary, the data is clear.

Sputnik V is the safest, most effective and second cheapest.

Sinopharm is the second safest, second most effective and cheapest.

Moderna is the third safest, third most effective and third cheapest expensive.

Pfizer is the least safe, least effective and most expensive.

So why the hell is the Japanese government buying masses of Pfizer duds and not giving the population a choice???? Even in China they have two vaccines. Russia has 3. USA has 3. North Korea has 3, India has 3. Japan is the only place where only one vaccine has been approved and it's the worst of the main 4!

When someone mentioned "vaccine passports" a year ago, I said "great idea".

And still do.

Yes I am fine with it, nothing new I still have my old Carte Jaune (International Certificate of Vaccination)

This has been around for decades and us accepted by nearly every country.

So why are countries going out of their way to create each their own system and making having smartphone obligatory?

How is this going to work.

A family with Children and that the children don't each have there own phone (and yes in many families and many countries not every individual has a phone) will the children's records be on both parent's phones or just one.

If just one or neither then does that mean having to purchase a phone for each child?

Again apps are great but not everyone has or wants a smartphone.

Divinda

As well as those who do not have a smartphone, including kids, elderly, the poor, and Luddites like me.

I honesty think this is kind of trolling. So you have a PC of access to one and don't have a smartphone? Well, just buy one online using your PC for 10,000 yen of so, or if still too expensive, then a used one. Heck PM me and I can give you one, if wont get a cheap or used one. You don't need a sim card. You can just use the free wifi the airport.

Poor people can't afford to travel so don't need to include in your list.

Regarding elderly and kids. Kids can prob go through parents. Agree elderly could be an issue, but only a small, small percentage. Most elderly I know all have smartphones and would be fine with a little training on scanning the QR.

That is false. At least I know the government of China offered Japan the Sinopharm vaccine at a very reasonable cost but were rejected. Why??? In the only country that has administered 100k or more of all 4 of the major vaccines (Sputnik V, Sinopharm, Moderna and Pfizer), Hungary, the data is clear.

Offering and applying for approval are two very different things.

China never submitted an application for approval and as far as I can find nor has Russia.

So try to follow.

Russia and China need to do like Pfizer, Moderna, AZ, Novavax and apply to be approved in Japan.

This means submitting research documents, tests results and going through local testing and verification process.

Now Russia has actually done this in many countries including the EU but China has refused only saying it offers the vaccine.

But neither has done this in Japan.

So please please please stop going on about this.

If you want these Vaccines in Japan then contact you friends in Russia and China and have them apply for approval and follow the process.

Guess you haven't read about the new 20GB data plans from Docomo/AU/Softbank. 20GB of DATA for ¥2400. Unlimited calls for an additional ¥1,500. Unlimited 5 min calls for an additional ¥500. Max is now about ¥4,000 with unlimited calls.

With Wifi at home, at work, on trains, in subway stations, in busy areas of the city and everyone with Line and/or Skype and/or Spybook I mean Facebook, and/or WeChat and/or SpyApp I mean WhatsApp, a 3 gig plan from BIC Camera costs me about 円1000 a month.

It is about control , its about tracking you, its about everything except what they are telling you and what you are believing

Every time you go online, use your mobile, swipe a card etc you're being tracked.

Bit late to be complaining about it now.

Hungary, the data is clear.

No it isn't :)

Sputnik V is the safest, most effective and second cheapest.

No it isn't :)

Sinopharm is the second safest, second most effective and cheapest.

No it isn't :)

But it's nice to see you participating in the russian fake news effort.

https://japantoday.com/category/world/eu-report-takes-aim-at-russia-over-vaccine-fake-news#comment-2447309

Offering and applying for approval are two very different things.

Why would they submit anything if the Japanese government already rejected it before submission? What's the point? I'm merely interested to know why they rejected it! China is already by far Japan's No.1 trading partner. It's not as if Japan has any kind of embargo on goods from China.

If you want these Vaccines in Japan then contact you friends in Russia

I contacted the Russian embassy and asked if non-Russians could get vaccinated inside the embassy. They replied something about (using Google translate) Japan rejecting it at this stage and until they approve it, the Russians can't vaccinate anyone in Japan, even in the embassy.

Why would they submit anything if the Japanese government already rejected it before submission? What's the point?

China has refused to give full data to anyone in it's Vaccine.

This is why no sane county has accepted it.

Russia submitted all it's data to the EU and has been tested.

China will not, their position is "take out word" and "take it or leave it".

But you will not understand because I feel you have anoth agenda.

The ability to travel should not be dictated by having or not having a smartphone...

Russia submitted all it's data to the EU and has been tested.

But the EMA has not yet approved it, which is the important point.

A required mrna shot to travel has not been around for decades.

"We have to consider because other countries are forcing this on their populations."

This is absolutely disgusting.

I guess people who do not want to put the experimental mrna shot in their body will be prisoners of their own ccountry.

Lets see if the Japamese people stands for this.

China has refused to give full data to anyone in it's Vaccine.

According to who? As far as I know, anyone interested in the vaccine has been given the data to prove it's efficacy. It's Pfizer which won't provide the accurate data to anyone. All they say now is "about" 90% but no word on when they will release the data they definitely now have.

Why would they submit anything if the Japanese government already rejected it before submission? What's the point? I'm merely interested to know why they rejected it! China is already by far Japan's No.1 trading partner. It's not as if Japan has any kind of embargo on goods from China.

Produce a source for this, thinking you can prove it just because you said it is like thinking Hungary can prove the Chinese vaccines are effective just because they said it without presenting any data.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/03/22/national/russian-chinese-vaccines-japan/

The ability to travel should not be dictated by having or not having a smartphone...

What part of the article made you think the app is the only way to prove being vaccinated?

A required mrna shot to travel has not been around for decades.

I believe no mRNA shot has ever been required for travel; but I agree with the rest of your post.

It is disgusting to push people to get unapproved experimental mRNA shot in their body. They have only been authorized for emergency use, but the IFR is so low, especially for healthy people. Makes no sense.

I agree with those above saying this is more about control than health.

It is disgusting to push people to get unapproved experimental mRNA shot in their body.

Fortunately that is not the case, the mRNA vaccines are no longer experimental when the final results for the primary endpoints of the trials were recorded, analyzed and published. At this point calling them experimental is simply false.

And approval do not confer any degree of safety or efficacy, for that the results of the trials were enough, specially at this point where literally millions of doses have already been delivered and the data correlates very well. Vaccines are much safer than not-vaccinating for any of the population targeted, there is no data that indicates otherwise, the scientific consensus is clear on that.

People that act rationally and chooses the much lesser risk can enjoy benefits from that choice, people that irrationally want to reject science can still do it without problem, just keeping with the many other social distancing measures that help protecting others from it.

It's Pfizer which won't provide the accurate data to anyone.

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2034577

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/Pfizer-BioNTech.html

https://rebelem.com/data-from-israel-on-the-bnt162b2-pfizer-mrna-covid-19-vaccine/

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/971017/SP_PH__VE_report_20210317_CC_JLB.pdf

Do you need more data?

Japan to introduce 'vaccine passports' for international travel

Alas, that is the way authoritarians are pushing for everywhere. Restricted rights, unless you get injected... first with this, and later with god knows what. Anyone who thinks this corona vaccine is an isolated event rather than the proverbial nose of the camel in the tent is naive.

What do you call a population that does not have control over their own bodies?

Don't want to get vaccinated, and have documentation? Fine, don't travel.

You don't have a right to travel. Stay home, We don't need your patronage

virusrex

Fortunately that is not the case, the mRNA vaccines are no longer experimental when the final results for the primary endpoints of the trials were recorded, analyzed and published. At this point calling them experimental is simply false.

Call them what you want, but the experience with this new technology is still very limited. There is even concern that they are related to prion disease, see here:

https://scivisionpub.com/pdfs/covid19-rna-based-vaccines-and-the-risk-of-prion-disease-1503.pdf

I'm really confused how having a vaccination passport is controlling my movements. Can someone who is quoting "1984" and government control explain???

> PaulToday  01:46 pm JST

China has refused to give full data to anyone in it's Vaccine.

According to who? As far as I know, anyone interested in the vaccine has been given the data to prove it's efficacy. It's Pfizer which won't provide the accurate data to anyone. All they say now is "about" 90% but no word on when they will release the data they definitely now have.

LOL - You sure are enthusiastic about that Russian vaccine!

Tell me, is there anything bad you have to say about Russia?

I'm really confused how having a vaccination passport is controlling my movements. Can someone who is quoting "1984" and government control explain???

I doubt it. But expect lots of shadowy language about thin end of the wedge, slippery slopes and freedoms.

A vaccine passport is designed to control movement, but so is a visa, passport, toll bridge, ticket gate, shop door...any number of things that have existed for a very long time.

AlexToday  03:08 pm JST

I'm really confused how having a vaccination passport is controlling my movements. Can someone who is quoting "1984" and government control explain???

If you haven't figured it out yet, it might be time to go (back) and read 1984.

If you haven't figured it out yet, it might be time to go (back) and read 1984.

The hysterical types on the right wing are obsessed with 1984.

Call them what you want, but the experience with this new technology is still very limited. There is even concern that they are related to prion disease, see here:

We have more experience with mRNA used in humans than COVID-19 infection, corona vaccines are not the first application they have been used for and until now no specific problem with the technology has been found in any of the multiple clinical trials.

Your source provides no evidence of the supposed danger being actually real or that it has ever happened once in any of the millions of people being vaccinated, it requires many assumptions that he makes no effort to prove and contradicts the evidence already seen from the vaccination.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/03/31/fact-check-covid-19-vaccine-not-associated-prion-disease/7053007002/

One extra fact that should make clear how this makes no real sense is that the supposed danger comes from the sequences of RNA of the vaccine stimulating the appearance of prions, but there is a source of the same sequences except in a million times bigger quantity that had not produced prion disease either, the same as with the ADE nonsense if the vaccine had any realistic possibility of producing this problem the natural infection would produce it in most cases already.

So you have a PC of access to one and don't have a smartphone? Well, just buy one online using your PC for 10,000 yen of so, or if still too expensive, then a used one.

Obviously then, I could just download the app to my laptop that I'm typing this on, right? Would that be OK?

No, because a laptop is not continuously connected like a phone. Neither is a WiFi-only phone or tablet.

The vaccine app -on a phone- means its probably suppose to be trackable, which means its continuously connected via cellular network to allow that.

This is already required, right now, to enter Japan. A person MUST download 3 apps, including a tracking app and communication app (Skype) so they know where you are at all times, who you interact with, and can contact you immediately whenever they want.

The tracking app download was suppose to be temporary, but the "vaccine passport" is making it permanent.

The tracking app download was suppose to be temporary, but the "vaccine passport" is making it permanent.

If that's what worries you, you could just install the app when you have to travel and uninstall it when you don't. Then you're not tracked.

I'm really confused how having a vaccination passport is controlling my movements. Can someone who is quoting "1984" and government control explain???

> The bad scenario could look like that:

The vaccination passport will allow for restriction of movement at any scale. Based on administrative decision (that your passport is no longer valid for some reason) you could be barred from entering a supermarket, a club, your office etc, not only barred from entering an aircraft. This means that the covid passport will give an unprecedented level of power to Authorities. Since covid-passport is designed for smartphones Authorithies will be able to control your movement in real time (through that "GPS" app or something more sophisticated). In the next step, your bank account will be linked to your smartphone. So, if you cause any problems according to Controller, it will be easy to block your bank account...

The scientific basis for this are just complete non-sense to no existent.

The fact that it will only be implemented on borders tells you about the real agenda of this, which is more overreaching border regulations. The virus is already widespread inside Japan, so this, even if it worked extremely well, will not stop a virus that is already inside the country.

This also means that the well connected will be the first in line to be able to travel freely, because of easy access to vaccines, and also shows a complete lack of care of people who cannot and should not be vaccinated, like small kids, for which there has been NO vaccine approved anywhere in the world, and for which the vaccine is completely useless, and the risk of the vaccine in this population are higher than COVID itself.

They also are talking about vaccine passports without talking about removing all other restrictions that exist right now at the border, which mean that it could very well be something you will be required to do ON TOP of the existing regulations.

This also mean that for the foreseeable future, no one under 65 will be able to travel.

And, for what?

What is exactly gained with this policy?

The main point is getting as many people as posible vaccinated, and that's about it. COVID-19 will never disappear, but there would be enough community immunity so that there will be no big outbreaks like those experienced in 2020 and 2021, and if the risk groups, which are the main targets of the vaccine, get vaccinated, mortality and hospitalization rates will just return to normal...

So once again, what is the point of this policy?

The virus is already in the country, so for stopping the virus entering the country is completely useless.

But, and here is the sad thing about this, borders and international travel are NOT protected by the constitution, so they are the one point for which the Japanese government can do whatever they want, and no one can even say anything about it, and since they removed the 2 year limit to the "Swine flu and similar infections law", which is what gives power to borders to put these restrictions in the first place, this could well be permanent.

Can that book with the list of meds you get at the pharmacy be used as an official medical passport? Does it need to be translated?

If that's what worries you, you could just install the app when you have to travel and uninstall it when you don't. Then you're not tracked.

On arrival in Japan, right now, you need to download the tracking app and KEEP IT ACTIVE for your initial 14 day quarantine, and to do so means signing up for a domestic data/communication plan, not simply WiFi. Uninstalling it flags you and (if not a citizen) can result in deportation. This isn't an imagined 1984, its official policy today.

Its already foreseeable that the "vaccine passport" will be necessary to be active for the entire visit by a tourist (which again, also means having a data and communication plan on a domestic network, not simply WiFi). How about non-citizens? Like students? Workers? PRs? What about in other countries?

Essentially, this will be the way for any government to keep tabs on any non-citizen.

The scientific basis for this are just complete non-sense to no existent.

One year ago, most people thought "vaccine passports" are conspiracy theories...

The government is moving forward with the plan in the hope of resuming business travel

Business is the main goal.

But a few months ago, Kono said he was not for this vaccine passport. Then, if other countries do it, no other way to follow.

At the pace of vaccination in Japan, no hope to travel within 1 year, unless going through all pcrs or quarantines.,

@Zoroto

Japan is last for vaccination rate in the civilized world, and you are worried about immigration of few thousands of vaccinated people? Ahah that's making no sense

@Yubaru

That's not true. Students can't even apply for VISA. Some japanese students can go abroad, while the opposite is not possible.

On arrival in Japan, right now, you need to download the tracking app and KEEP IT ACTIVE for your initial 14 day quarantine,

And why do you think that is? You don't think this has anything to do with the very unusual circumstance of a worldwide deadly pandemic??

and to do so means signing up for a domestic data/communication plan, not simply WiFi. Uninstalling it flags you and (if not a citizen) can result in deportation. This isn't an imagined 1984, its official policy today.

You are aware a lot of countries don't even let people get in right now? Borders closed completely. No non-citizens come in at all. Having to install an app doesn't really seem like such an authoritarian measure in exchange of being able to get in the country. Why are you even traveling during a pandemic? Common sense would tell you not to.

Its already foreseeable that the "vaccine passport" will be necessary to be active for the entire visit by a tourist

No it isn't. You could just show it at the border to prove you've been vaccinated and that's that.

You are aware the world actually already had vaccine passports in the past, right? This isn't a new idea at all.

ifd66Today  06:45 am JST

The passports are expected to be in the form of a smartphone app

And for those like myself without a smartphone?

Go buy one FFS. It's 2021.

Getting ahead of itself??? For vaccine passports, you need vaccines first of all.

There was no talk of this before but....

"Other countries are doing it, so Japan will have to consider it too,"

last in again. Why is Japan always waiting for the rest of the world to do something before it even thinks about doing the same thing. It always gets left behind. Knowing Japan there'll be all sorts of caveats unique to Japan when someone tries to use these passports to visit Japan (whereas there'll be no restrictions abroad for Japanese, as usual).

the slave passport, now you are not so different than a cow with a number on its ear

the slave passport, now you are not so different than a cow with a number on its ear

If you listen to Tucker and the barmy websites you’re a free-thinking warrior for human rights and fighting against the Matrix, which isn’t real yet but just you wait and don’t say I didn’t warn you, that’s how they get you, biometric chips in the syringe. It’s all planned out see, they’re all in on it. Don’t get me started...

My daughter, a dual US/Japanese citizen, is due to arrive from the US in Tokyo and then travel to Kumamoto tomorrow. We'll see how this works.

@strangerland QR codes are just fancy barcodes that can be read as a number or url or anything. They are not encrypted or anything fancy. Any barcode scanner on your can can reverse the info on a QR code and it's tribal to make a new one.

So... no one will have them since only 1.6% of the population has been vaccinated?

Good, this will separate me from the idiot conspiracy theorists

Without the vaccine the passports are useless.

arrive from the US in Tokyo and then travel to Kumamoto tomorrow. 

@Laguna

How is she going from Tokyo to Kumamoto? Are you driving her? Is she renting a car? Pretty far if so. Or will she quarantine in Tokyo?

Not suppose to take public transport for 2 weeks while in quarantine, and I don't think they allow yet someone to skirt these rules even if vaccinated abroad.

As the EU is opening up for fully Vaccinated persons and others,

The US Military here in Japan is already like 75% vaccinated

Also over 40% of USA people are fully vaccinated and ready to travel and spend money

It is a start to opening up again.

the slave passport, now you are not so different than a cow with a number on its ear

Yeah, that's not remotely true, though.

And quite a take on the genocidal slave trade, too.

For the passport to work, Japan needs to vaccinate first. I am thinking 2025?

The passports are expected to be in the form of a smartphone app, with travelers scanning QR codes at airports before boarding flights or when entering the country.

**The government is moving forward with the plan in the hope of resuming business travel that has virtually stopped during the pandemic, joining the European Union, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China.** The Yen/Money makes things happen fast. The government wants to send its vaccinated business travelers to and from other countries but does not reciprocate the same from other countries all in the name of making money!

While all of you argue about the passport issue, we get it and understand many of you have and need to see family overseas.

We are chilled and laid back taking advantage of the freedom to travel everywhere all over Japan. Venues empty. Photo opportunities abound. Fabulous food, and impeccable service.

Love the one you are with, love the country you live in.

In Japan, it will improve in a year and a half or so then you can travel outside the country again. But complaining will just stress you. At least you have the internet to see and chat. In the old days, it cost ten American dollars for a minute of using a real phone, and or we used real paper, pen, envelopes and stamps.

Love the one you are with, love the country you live in.

So, thats will be only for business travel or they planning to resume tourism aswell ?

We are chilled and laid back taking advantage of the freedom to travel everywhere all over Japan. Venues empty. Photo opportunities abound. Fabulous food, and impeccable service.

This message was brought to you on behalf of the Japanese tourism board.

This message was brought to you on behalf of the Japanese tourism board.

So interesting, isn’t it, especially given the fact that the same poster stated this afternoon that “Japan has entered the third world.”

Love the one you are with, love the country you live in.

Sorry, but these are condescending platitudes.

Tell that to someone with a mother dying of cancer, to someone who hasn't been able to see their families for years, and were planning on seeing them in 2020, people who have been told they have just a few months to live.

One of the reasons why this is so infuriating is because there is no clear timeline or real path to any return to any kind of normality.

The Japanese government have removed all of the time limits originally put when all these restrictions started, and now they are kind of permanent.

It is also infuriating because most people in Japan really could not care less about these restrictions. Even people who like to go travel to other countries just see it as a minor inconvenience, which isn't the same when part of your life is in another country, but international people are a minority and therefore we do not matter.

It is infuriating that business and well connected people have been able for the most part to do whatever they want and continue to travel without much inconvenience.

I mean, the quarantine rule works mostly if you have a place to crash in Tokyo, or have enough money to pay for a good and expensive hotel, where you will be able to work without much problem.

For the rest of us, these quarantines make travel mostly imposible, specially if you live far away from Tokyo, and do not have the luxury to just take a 2 week plus vacation, just to comply with quarantine requirements.

Yeah, I can "chat online" with people in other countries, but it actually has become painful to talk with a good friend of mine who lives alone in London, looking how his mental health has been getting worse and worse as these lockdowns and restrictions go on. I was supposed to go see him last year, and he was supposed to go to other countries to visit some other friends, because basically all of his friends are in other countries... but he hasn't been able to do that.

He suffers from clinical depression, and its just painful to see him in his current state. I'm thinking of even going to London, to be basically on house arrest just to be with him for a few days, and then waste a lot of money time and effort just to comply with quarantine. In fact most of my schedule and budget would be spent in quarantine measures.

And, once again, for what exactly?

What are we gaining with these border closures?

What are we gaining with these ridiculous restrictions?

Cheers mates. Don't get so stressed about a passport as the vaccines are not happening for a year or so.

unless we want to lose our permanent status

FYI you can get a 5-yr re-entry permit for PR...if leaving Japan for a while is what you mean

AZ - $2.15 per dose inside the EU

AZ - $5.25 per dose outside the EU

Pfizer-BioNTech - $14.70 per dose inside the EU (EU funded research)

Pfizer-BioNTech - $19.50 per dose in USA

Moderna - $18 per dose inside the EU

Moderna - $15 per dose in USA (the US funded the research)

J&J - $10 per dose in USA (the US funded the research)

Moderna received a Shkreli Award https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Shkreli in 2021 for ”worst examples of profiteering and dysfunction in health care.”

Ref: https://www.managedhealthcareexecutive.com/view/the-price-tags-on-the-covid-19-vaccines

Russia and China haven't provided the raw data for their trials, so they aren't magically approved by Japan. The trial results from outside Russia and China have not produced consistent results, which brings questions about the methodology used and the manufacturing for each batch of vaccine.

Can someone explain to me what exactly will happen if I can't get the vaccine due to me being allergic? Will I still be allowed to travel as a tourist in the future if I at least show proof that I have tested negative for the virus? Also how will the app know whether or not i've been tested if my private doctor has tested me and given me the results on paper to show to officials at airports/immigration that I don't have covid?

I'm honestly confused about all this fuss on "not being able to afford a smartphone" and therefore being discriminated; did they disclose the exact way this hypothetical application works yet?

Because seems to me the obvious way to go is to have a secure online identity account, by which I mean you'd get a username and password (and ideally a one-time-password sent either to an app, or as an SMS, or through a phone call, for increased security), and link this online identity account to the online database of the vaccine.

If that's the case, it's reasonable to say one can log into the account using any internet-enabled device, such as a public PC set up for the occasion where needed, or by temporary using another person's device.

I'll repeat myself, but I don't get all this fuss about "why can't we use paper which has worked for ages" either. To these I'll simply reply "why don't you travel to Europe with a horse and rowboat, it worked for ages.". Hell, why don't you walk around naked and eat raw meat straight from the bones of your prey since you're at it; our ancestors did it for thousands of years.

I know it can be difficult to change, but change is what pushes us forward.

Dodo

A little emotionally charged toward the end but exactly the point one would expect Nihon, with its focus on our electronic future, would be the first to see. No mention here is made of such a straightforward idea so...(how old are the people designing this plan?). Presumably the vaccination documentation contains a number of some sort. When people are vaccinated, give them a unique plastic meishi with a QR code that is database linked to the central record, could even have a Costco card quality image of the person. The card is held up to the, say, restaurant's local cell phone and the screen flashes the person's image and then turns green. Or red if there is an issue. Easy-peasy... Yes, this idea is impractical for wide vaccine distribution but special sites accommodating the non-smart phoned folks would be set up. And while the setup for this would be trivial, the issue it would address is, according to comments I see here, NOT. And fifty years from now digging through a drawer, people would find their old COVID Card(!) and reminisce about the 'good old days' and all the fun times those days were, and how young we looked...

Oops, forgot to add to the above "Fee Required for Special Service". Sorry, forgot the inevitable...

Can someone explain to me what exactly will happen if I can't get the vaccine due to me being allergic? Will I still be allowed to travel as a tourist in the future if I at least show proof that I have tested negative for the virus? Also how will the app know whether or not i've been tested if my private doctor has tested me and given me the results on paper to show to officials at airports/immigration that I don't have covid?

One very easy way to avoid having problems in this situation is making the app sufficient to prove immunity/negativity but not necessary, as long as people can also use other methods it would only mean some extra paperwork.

Can that book with the list of meds you get at the pharmacy be used as an official medical passport?

No. It shows the medication you have obtained from the pharmacist. It doesn’t show the medical treatment you have had, such as inoculations as they are administered by the doctor and not provided by the pharmacist.

Does it need to be translated?

See above.

Translating your list of prescribed and issued medications would be of no use, unless you were traveling to a country where medications you are currently taking - and carrying with you - are under control. In any respect, it has nothing to do with inoculations.

Also, reread the article:

The passports are expected to be in the form of a smartphone app, with travelers scanning QR codes at airports before boarding flights or when entering the country.

You’re welcome.

Millions of Americans will never get the shot for numerous reasons. They are not sick. Japan will refuse those who have familiy in Japan from visiting their Japanese family members ever again? Is this the new Japanese culture?

Here in the UK our vaccines are administered by the NHS, we don't have the option on which vaccine we are given. If Japan decides to refuse entry to those who have had the AZ vaccine then they are crazy - most people in the UK will have had the AZ vaccine, which means that Japan will be barring millions of British people, including me.

Dodo,

The solution you describe is entirely reasonable. In this case no user would need a device, because the border agents doing the checks would be the ones who needed access to the records. If people want a plastic vaccine card then we could have systems that just automatically pull up a DB record for a certain card; there's no downside and it would work equally well with an app.

Just using a website and a db like this would seem obvious. The issue is that this is not what is being done; everybody is making apps which would require me to accept either apple or Google's privacy policies as a condition of entry.

One point that I see most people who are in the "this is not a big deal" camp fail to understand is that this measure, at least in its current form, is completely unnecessary.

It would make more sense if, for example, some place that is Covid free like Australia or NZ required some form of vaccine certificate at borders, as some countries do to avoid carrying either in or out some illness that either is local or the place is free of.

In this case, you just need to prove that you have received the vaccine by any means necessary and you are free to go. This is the way border quarantine sections have worked for years in respect to some specific vaccines.

This thing thou, is different. Requiring having not just a certificate, but a very specific certificate means more hops you have to jump, also requiring having a device and an specific app is not really helping.

It would be nice if there was an app you can use to use as your vaccine certificate, but making it the ONLY way to get the certificate seems like a very intransigent and bureaucratic system. Also, of course there will be privacy and security concerns for the application, so that also makes it not that great.

And the final point that makes this useless is, SARS-CoV-2 is already widespread within this country, so putting a vaccination check at the border is really not doing much.

Once again, we are in a time in which COVID-19 is already a preventable disease. If you are vulnerable or are afraid of the virus, be very careful, do social distancing and stay at home as much as posible, while you wait in line to get your vaccine. After that, there really should be no more problems, so I don't really get why at this is what politicians are talking about, which just create more problems and hate towards vaccination, when what the government should be doing is, working as hard as posible so that people who need the vaccines can get them as soon as posible, and try to convince the rest of the population of the benefits of the vaccine instead of trying to strong arm them to vaccinate, while not giving back any freedoms.

If Japan decides to refuse entry to those who have had the AZ vaccine then they are crazy - most people in the UK will have had the AZ vaccine, which means that Japan will be barring millions of British people, including me.

And why would this happen? the AZ vaccine is still effective even against variants so there would be no reason to not recognize it as immunization.

It would be nice if there was an app you can use to use as your vaccine certificate, but making it the ONLY way to get the certificate seems like a very intransigent and bureaucratic system

From what source you take that this will be the only way to certify vaccination? nothing in this article says so nor I have found anywhere this information. It is mentioned it is used to make things "easier" or more convenient, but not that it will be the only way to do it.

"Many international "students" are from places where the virus is out of control, so hopefully the answer is 'no'."

One of those places is Japan, where people are being inoculated either slowly or not at all. Part of the problem Is not enough vaccine (as I write). The United States issued warning about travel to Japan.

International vaccine passports are only good if there is vaccine to back them up and if they can register when one has caught a variant.

Traveling internationally at this point is crazy, even with vaccinations. It is travel enough to shop for daily necessities.

Stay quiet,

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and the Foreign Ministry will play a central role in working out the details of the plan

That means it will take at least another year before the app is available to users.

From what source you take that this will be the only way to certify vaccination? nothing in this article says so nor I have found anywhere this information. It is mentioned it is used to make things "easier" or more convenient, but not that it will be the only way to do it.

From the fact that right now they are doing something similar to "track" people who are getting into the country.

Right now you are required to have a smartphone and install like 3 different applications in order to get into the country.

Under this Orwellian plan, how will people who cannot be vaccinated visit family in Japan?

I predicted this just as the virus started to spread outside Wuhan. And was told to stop spreading fear!!!

Vaccine passports are an invasion of civil liberties.

Under this Orwellian plan, how will people who cannot be vaccinated visit family in Japan?

Who knows. The thing with this plan is that outside of talking about requiring the "vaccine passport" there is absolutely no other information on how the current restriction would change if at all.

Let's remember that right now, even if you are vaccinated you STILL are required to have a PCR test done and quarantine for 15 days, which is so dumb and anti-science that it really shows how these restrictions have little to nothing of good evidence behind them.

Also, there is still this blanket ban of most foreigners, and a stop of all visa free status.

I have a foreign mother living outside of Japan, and she is not allowed to come visit here, even thou I'm part of the same family, and I'm a Japanese National.

Her name is in my Koseki, but even vaccinated, she is seen as a dangerous virus carrying monster that should not be allowed into the country, while well connected people can have "special authorizations" made to them so that they can get into Japan for "non-essential" reasons.

Being vaccinated simply means you are essentially a host to something that does not adversely effect you. The problem is, however, that when you come into contact with others who are not so well inoculated, then you pose a threat to them and everyone else around you.

International Travel should be curtailed until the virus has subsided Globally. The only people pushing for these passports are those belonging to the Travel sector.

Fortunately that is not the case, the mRNA vaccines are no longer experimental when the final results for the primary endpoints of the trials were recorded, analyzed and published. At this point calling them experimental is simply false.

Absolutely false. Those who are injecting are the experimental guinea pigs...anything that happens is permanent. No refunds. No regrets.

The carrot? Your COVID vaccine passport which requires annual booster shots.

A regional independent drug assessment center, the CTIAP (Centre territorial d’Information indépendante et d’Avis pharmaceutiques), which is linked to the Cholet public hospital in the west of France, recently published a report showing that the vaccines used against COVID were not only submitted to insufficient clinical testing, but that the quality of the active substances, their “excipients, some of which are new,” and the manufacturing processes are problematic. “These new excipients should be considered as new active substances,” the Cholet hospital team stated, in a study that according to them raises issues that have not been commented to date.

All of the studies submitted during the MA application are summarized in the EPAR (European Public Assessment Report). This report is published on the European Medicines Agency (EMA) website. The planned studies, not yet completed, are also included.

This schedule, which “extends from 2021 to at least 2024,” depending on which COVID-19 vaccine is involved, is defined in the “annexes” of the conditional marketing authorization and in the published EPARs.

As an example, the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine received this European conditional MA on December 21, 2020. And the deadline for filing “confirmation” of efficacy, safety, and tolerability of this vaccine is “December 2023.”

The Moderna vaccine was granted marketing authorization on January 6, 2021. The deadline for filing “confirmation” of efficacy, safety, and tolerability of the vaccine is “December 2022” at the earliest.

AstraZeneca’s vaccine was granted marketing authorization on January 29, 2021. The deadline for filing “confirmation” of efficacy, safety, and tolerability of the vaccine is “March 2024.”

The Janssen vaccine was granted conditional European marketing authorization on March 11, 2021. The deadline for submitting “confirmation” of the vaccine’s efficacy, safety and tolerance is “December 2023.”

https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/french-drug-assessment-center-demands-removal-of-all-four-widely-used-covid-vaccines

Safety studies do not conclude until after 2022-2024. Again, I know you'll probably ignore that information that everyone is just a guinea pig in this experiment but the reply is for others to read as an opposing opinion to Pharma's narrative.

Inject if you wish to but understand you have zero recourse if you do. Any adverse effects are permanent.

Absolutely false. Those who are injecting are the experimental guinea pigs...anything that happens is permanent. No refunds. No regrets.

You keep repeating the same non-arguments based solely in your own opinion, that is not valid. Vaccines stopped being experimental already, now they are allowed to be used in the general population for the purpose of their therapeutic value not to collect information, that by definition would prove you mistaken.

There is a grand total of 0 data that proves annual vaccines are ever going to be necessary.

Authorizations are granted after proving enough safety and efficacy, and up until this point none of the vaccines have any data that would make them unacceptable for final approval, in fact they have proved to be much safer and effective than what it was expected during the clinical trials, for the desperation of the antivaxxer groups that predicted no efficacy over 30% and multiple problems that never came to happen.

COVID-19 related health problems are the ones that are not only much more frequent and important, they can also leave people with a permanent disability (since people cannot grow a new pancreas or brain). Vaccines up to this point have not.

And again, reported side effects that you keep copy-pasting after your comment gets deleted are in the expected rates for people that have never been vaccinated, that is not what you would find if the vaccines were the cause as you mistakenly try to insinuate.

I have had my vaccine can I now come for a holiday??

Vaccine passports are an invasion of civil liberties.

many cant understand, civil liberties of Americans are null and void in many other countries, want to travel to other countries youll have to adhere to those countries laws whether you agree with them or not.

Under this Orwellian plan, how will people who cannot be vaccinated visit family in Japan?

well youll just have to wait until the majority of Japanese are vaccinated and yourself also. my parents wanted to visit Japan last year, now they realise its best that theyre vaccinated and also my wife and I before they visit again and international travel starts to return

"Other countries are doing it, so Japan will have to consider it too," Taro Kono, the minister in charge of the country's vaccination efforts, said in a parliamentary session Wednesday.

Other countries' vaccination programs are well under way with many already having received their second shots. When is this Japandese "Vaccination Passport" going to be valid, 2022?

All this for an un-isolated, undefined "disease" with a mortality rate so low that is barely measurable.

Never mind the "vaccines" are not actually vaccines rather they are experimental MRNA therapy, a type of shot that has not gone through the 3-5 years or more of safety and efficacy testing that vaccines usually undergo. Never mind that when such shots were tested on ferrets in the past, all the ferrets died.

So the question is why is all this happening? Why the need to protect everyone with immunity passports when the threat is so small?

C-O-N-T-R-O-L.

It's all about controlling the masses.

"You've got your passport, so you can travel."

"You've got your passport, so you can ride public transportation."

"You've got your passport, so you can eat out at restaurants."

And the rest of you?

"You don't get to participate in society, because we say so."

That may sound extreme, but unless push back fiercely against this, that is what you will get.

@zichi We are all slaves then and have been for hundreds of years. You'll get no argument from me there but please understand that we slaves get upset when the government reminds us who is really in control. These Truman Show realities disturb our fantasy of "freedom".

Another step closer to the planned fascist world order.

There is a grand total of 0 data that proves annual vaccines are ever going to be necessary.

*"Patients will "likely" need a third dose of Pfizer and BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine as the shot's protection wanes, CEO Albert Bourla said in a recent interview with CVS Health Live. And after receiving a third shot, people should expect re-vaccination every year, he said. *

That could spell extra sales for Pfizer in the short term, and turn its mRNA-based vaccine Comirnaty into a revenue spring for years to come. 

Get it? Vaccine Passports in conjunction with annual shots. A new form of control for the "greater corrupt Pharma$$$ good". I'm sorry but you really are defending pharma at every turn.

Get it? Vaccine Passports in conjunction with annual shots. A new form of control for the "greater corrupt Pharma$$ good". I'm sorry but you really are defending pharma at every turn.

So to refute the claim that there is zero data to prove annual vaccines are going to be necessary you present exactly zero data? that is exactly my point.

Additionally now you want people to blindly trust what Pfizer CEO says even when he is contradicted by scientific data. Who would have know? you saying they should be trusted more than science.

So to refute the claim that there is zero data to prove annual vaccines are going to be necessary you present exactly zero data? that is exactly my point.

The 3rd shot is being "$prepped$" as a booster to combat the "variants" but are ineffective. The COVID vaccines specifically do not work and your denial of VAERS (Voluntary Adverse Events Reporting System to CDC) data: https://medalerts.org/vaersdb/findfield.php?TABLE=ON&GROUP1=CAT&EVENTS=ON&VAX=COVID19

...tells me that you do not care about what the negative effects are happening and your focus is on maintaining Pharma's narrative: lock down, mask up and inject with these experimental vaxxes that still cause "Breakthrough COVID cases" - 5,800 cases already.

Additionally now you want people to blindly trust what Pfizer CEO says even when he is contradicted by scientific data. Who would have know? you saying they should be trusted more than science.

Not Pfizer's CEO but also Moderna's CEO is saying the same 4/23/2021:

"Moderna is working on a booster shot to fight off COVID-19 variants.

The company hopes to have it rolled out by this fall, according to its CEO Stephane Bancel. Clinical data on a booster shot could come in May...Moderna CEO says booster shots will eventually be required"

https://www.wdrb.com/news/moderna-ceo-says-booster-shots-will-eventually-be-required/article_fd29c378-a474-11eb-bc01-af7255c4adbf.html

The 3rd shot is being "$prepped$" as a booster to combat the "variants" but are ineffective. 

Again, this has not been confirmed by any data yet, up until now all vaccines have adequate efficacy even against the new variants.

your denial of VAERS (Voluntary Adverse Events Reporting System to CDC) data: 

It is the opposite, you keep trying to hide the fact that the VAERS data and the natural rates of occurrence in the non-vaccinated population is equivalent. Why is that? one thing is to ignore that this is how the VAERS data should be used, another completely different is for you to keep copy-pasting this in your comments without including the other half of the information that proves it is not significative.

Not Pfizer's CEO but also Moderna's CEO is saying the same 4/23/2021:

So now you say you can trust the vaccine companies CEOs even when they have no data to prove boosters are going to be necessary? that can only mean you have to trust them also when they say their vaccines are safe and effective against COVID. You cannot argue that you can and can't trust them at the same time, that would be contradicting yourself.

It would be again as the time you said CDC no longer said vaccines do not cause autism, something that was very easy to prove wrong with a few seconds of googling to the CDC site where they said precisely this.

It is the opposite, you keep trying to hide the fact that the VAERS data and the natural rates of occurrence in the non-vaccinated population is equivalent. Why is that? one thing is to ignore that this is how the VAERS data should be used, another completely different is for you to keep copy-pasting this in your comments without including the other half of the information that proves it is not significative.

https://medalerts.org/vaersdb/findfield.php?TABLE=ON&GROUP1=CAT&EVENTS=ON&VAX=COVID19

VAERS data on specifically COVID vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, J&J) are now reports the following:

Deaths - 3544

Permanent Disability - 1595

Office Visits - 19213

Emergency Room Doctor - 16521

Hospitalized - 8149 - Prolonged - 16

Recovered from adverse events- 45,575 

Birth Defect - 88

Life Threatening - 2436

Not Serious - 45,375 

Any of these can happen to you or your loved ones. Remember that a little over 1% is voluntarily reported. Multiply the numbers by 100x and you'll get more realistic numbers of what is actually happening.

How can these be natural when they are voluntarily reported with the physician helping them to voluntarily report it. Some physicians are even refusing to acknowledge the events from the vaccine and will not report it. Of course Pharma is in denial of any connections saying it's all "coincidental" but they will "look into it".

So now you say you can trust the vaccine companies CEOs even when they have no data to prove boosters are going to be necessary? that can only mean you have to trust them also when they say their vaccines are safe and effective against COVID. You cannot argue that you can and can't trust them at the same time, that would be contradicting yourself.

On the contrary, reading that the CEOs are making these statements for shareholders is frightening. They are focused on planning for annual shots / boosters similar to the flu shot to make it endemic and when combined with a vaccine passport it will create 2 classes of citizens for a COVID vaccine that isn't even effective yet causes high risks of negative side effects.

Again ZERO long term studies which you are so accepting of. We have no idea what will happen down the road and already seeing these negative adverse events / deaths / disabilities. It will be worse for children when they start injecting in September this year to go to school (USA only now and depends on state).

Know of another person who got the 2nd Pfizer shot (employer required it) and has had serious headaches for 2 weeks already now and trouble working / focusing. Are you going to say there's no connection to the COVID vaccine?

It would be again as the time you said CDC no longer said vaccines do not cause autism, something that was very easy to prove wrong with a few seconds of googling to the CDC site where they said precisely this.

https://thehighwire.com/videos/cdc-removes-claim-vaccines-do-not-cause-autism/

Watch and understand...

@neowave

It would be again as the time you said CDC no longer said vaccines do not cause autism, something that was very easy to prove wrong with a few seconds of googling to the CDC site where they said precisely this.

https://thehighwire.com/videos/cdc-removes-claim-vaccines-do-not-cause-autism/

Watch and understand...

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/concerns/autism.html

"Vaccines do not cause autism."

"Vaccine ingredients do not cause autism."

So what exactly are you on about??

VAERS data on specifically COVID vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, J&J) are now reports the following:

You keep spamming this every day until your comments get deleted, but you never include the data that proves this is completely in the same rates that non-vaccinated people have. Why is that? people may begin to think you do it on purpose to mislead by withholding the half of the information that proves your point is false.

On the contrary, reading that the CEOs are making these statements for shareholders is frightening. 

That is called having double standards, if they say something you don't want to believe they are 100% liars, but if they say something you want to believe then they are 100% trustworthy, sorry but that is not valid, it only makes evident that you don't care about contradicting yourself and even demonstrate that what you yourself say is false, which is fine with me but should make you reconsider how come you cannot be coherent.

As always, there is no need to have long term studies to say validly that COVID is much more risky in the long term, because it already produce much more long term and permanent problems, I know you are hoping vaccines will magically begin to cause them too, but at this point this is only happens with the natural infection, so you saying that vaccines have the same risk is false, mistaken.

Watch and understand...

This only proves that you lied when you said the CDC retracted the absolute lack of relationshipt between vaccines and autism, there is no such retraction, so why you keep trying to mislead other people into this when you already know it is not true. Again is the same as when you tried to convince people the chickenpox vaccine was bad for elderly people but brought an article that said exactly the opposite and concluded that the vaccine should be used as much as possible because such negative effect was not true.

"Vaccines do not cause autism."

"Vaccine ingredients do not cause autism."

So what exactly are you on about??

The website was previously updated to remove those statements as shown in the video:

https://thehighwire.com/videos/cdc-removes-claim-vaccines-do-not-cause-autism/

The CDC updated the website again. Looks like there will still be ongoing lawsuits filed to provide ACTUAL studies that show that "vaccines do not cause autism". The CDC still has not provided any studies that allowed them to make that statement.

You keep spamming this every day until your comments get deleted, but you never include the data that proves this is completely in the same rates that non-vaccinated people have. Why is that? people may begin to think you do it on purpose to mislead by withholding the half of the information that proves your point is false.

Sorry that you feel that way but VAERS is updated bi-weekly and the numbers keep going up!

Here is the direct link to the CDC reporting of deaths:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/adverse-events.html

"CDC uses the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) to closely monitor reports of death following COVID-19 vaccination."

"Over 245 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered in the United States from December 14, 2020, through May 3, 2021. During this time, VAERS received 4,178 reports of death (0.0017%) among people who received a COVID-19 vaccine. "

I'm sure you're going to emphasize the 0.0017%. Is that what you tell the families of loved ones they lost and that it wasn't the vaccine?

Or how about those who were disabled because of the shots but still managed to survive? At least they won't have severe cough and headache if they get COVID right?

Sorry that you feel that way but VAERS is updated bi-weekly and the numbers keep going up!

And what do you think happens with the non-vaccinated people? become immortal? the numbers for non-vaccinated people also go up, in the same degree, that is the only reason you keep hiding that half of the information, because it proves the vaccines are not causing problems, they are simply not preventing the normal problems people have (except for COVID) but you already know that because I have told you repeatedly, the problem is that even knowing it you are still trying to mislead people into thinking VAERS means the problems are exclusive to vaccinated people, it does not work anymore.

The website was previously updated to remove those statements as shown in the video:

Excuses, at the moment you wrote they retracted the claim they still had it in huge letters, that means you were wrong, you wrote something false even if it was very easy to corroborate it was false, it did not took even one minute to do it, the same as your example of chickenpox that contradicted everything you were trying to say and that you would have known if you actually read what you copy-paste in your comments.

As always, there is no need to have long term studies to say validly that COVID is much more risky in the long term, because it already produce much more long term and permanent problems, I know you are hoping vaccines will magically begin to cause them too, but at this point this is only happens with the natural infection, so you saying that vaccines have the same risk is false, mistaken.

I have never read anything from you entertaining other options outside of vaccines to save lives. Ivermectin actually is amazingly effective (family members of those infected can take it and not get COVID19 or develop symptoms - actually works as opposed to these experimental COVID vaxxes) but is off-patent so Pharma makes pennies as opposed to injections and CONTROL with V-passports.

I've only seen emphasis on Pharma's narrative in all your replies:

-Dismiss and downplay opposing statements

-Find hit pieces on opposing doctors or scientists

You previously presented a hit piece on Michael Yeadon, former Vice President and Chief Science Officer of Pfizer (where he worked for 16 years) against this interview:

https://rumble.com/vg4inv-michael-yeadon-full-interview-planet-lockdown.html

That hit piece was by Reuters (working closely with the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation)

-Promote everyone being locked down, masked up and have them take these experimental COVID injections with ZERO long term safety studies (no recourse for injuries/death).

I have never read anything from you entertaining other options outside of vaccines to save lives. Ivermectin actually is amazingly effective

That is also false, there are many studies where people treated with ivermectin get heavy complications or even die, your imaginary efficacy is not recognized by science, and between science on one side and you (that have demonstrated to continuously hide information that proves you wrong) definetely science is much more trustworthy.

Vaccines work, they are safe and effective even if you are desperately trying to mislead people to the opposite conclusion, "Pharma" is just another of the excuses that you use, in reality science is the one that proves vaccines are safe and effective (much more than ivermectin) this is very simple to corroborate and you always run away from this, just present a well recognized scientific or medical organization that says that vaccines are not much safer than COVID, you have never been able to do it, why do you think this is? because every single organization of the whole world is in the imaginary conspiracy? that is just fantasy.

You previously presented a hit piece on Michael Yeadon, former Vice President and Chief Science Officer of Pfizer (where he worked for 16 years) against this interview:

Your source have been proved wrong multiple times, and tries to disguise his personal opinion as if it was some scientific fact, but for that he needs data and he never presents it, that is enough to validly consider his opinion as irrelevant, but since he says something you want to hear you have no other option but to ignore all his mistakes and problematic opinions, that is just having double standards and it is not something that an honest person wants to have. You on the contrary apparently take pride on it.