Japan enacts law to make coronavirus vaccines free to residents

-only took a year,

Government is slowly sowing seeds of distrust to the foreign vaccines so they can push their protected vaccine industry’s own vaccine which will only run a 500 person phase 3 later next year.

“health ministry officials have said they expect them to be covered.”

Foreign residents probably should be prepared to pay out of pocket, any time something gets taken out of the standard insurance scheme it becomes difficult to get coverage. The most optimistic case would be paying out of pocket up front, then filing a complex array of forms and wait for reimbursement several months later.

It’s surely not free. It has been paid already or will be cost afterwards, through taxes or expenses being cut in other fields or a higher debt amount of the country.

The revised law does not clarify whether the scheme will include foreign residents of Japan, but health ministry officials have said they expect them to be covered.

I am interested to know why there is doubt that it would not... I believe all legal residents, including those who are not Japanese by birth, are covered equally under Japanese constitution.

Cricky

-only took a year,

This is the perfect timing since the feasibility studies and efficacy tests for the vaccines are showing up.

You know countries that made the decision faster? Enumerate it here.

I am lucky, because my company will pay my vaccine!

They want me to resume business trips overseas as soon as possible.

But I guess that all foreign residents, at least the ones with PR status or a japanese spouse, will also get it for free.

Testing on the other hand?..

Since the government gave foreign residents ¥100 000 each a few months ago, I think the government can spring for a vaccine.

Why would people think that foreign residents wouldn't be included? I'm not a big fan of how the J-government do many things but they did give the ¥1,000,000 assistance to freelancers/businesses both to Japanese and foreigners, plus the ¥100,000 per person.

Pray tell, why are all these 65 year old and up people doing in such a place without proper social distancing and preventive measures in place?

Right, do as I say, and not as I do, quite typical for here!

My hope is that THESE elected officials, get in line first to get the virus vaccination. Then I will decide whether or not to get one myself!

Can we all dare to hope that the vaccine really is the light at the end of the tunnel.

Foreign residents will be covered, no doubt about it. As they come the 100,000 yens last spring. When it comes to health, right are exactly the same

Doesn’t your city send you any proposal for health check, vaccines… I always get them and never been excluded.

145 million people...what about the REST living in Japan? I'm a PR, which group am I in? Once I have received the vax, can I go to my gym without a flipping mask?

Regarding foreign residents, I believe, it should only be free to those with close ties to Japan such as, PR's, Special PR's and Spouses of Nationals or PR's. Everyone else is just a guest here and should be taken care by their own country.

Everyone else is just a guest here and should be taken care by their own country.

Everyone else who make an income in here are not in a vacation. They also pay into the health insurance, pension and city/prefectural taxes.

@El Rata

I was here for 16 years, paying my taxes, before I got PR. During that period I only returned to my home country for holidays 3 times so how would that country take care of me?

all the roughly 126 million residents of the country

Do people not read? It says, all residents.

It would be stupid and a very false economy to decide to have a bunch of folk not vaccinated on account of they have the wrong passport, passing on the virus wherever they went.

The virus does not check your passport or visa.

No one is safe until everyone is safe.

can I go to my gym without a flipping mask?

You have my sympathy, trying to exercise with a flipping mask is very annoying.

But the solution is simple. If your mask is flipping, you are wearing it wrong. Please make sure it is properly secured behind your ears.

Regarding foreign residents, I believe, it should only be free to those with close ties to Japan such as, PR's, Special PR's and Spouses of Nationals or PR's. Everyone else is just a guest here and should be taken care by their own country.

Very silly idea. The point of free vaccinations is to give immunity to as much of the population living here as possible. Putting a price on it could hinder that.

The vaccine should be free and available to everyone.

Some Japanese media confirms that every resident Japanese or Foreigner will get his free vaccine.

Just hope that the vaccination centers do not become COVID19 clusters or reuse needles.

But the solution is simple. If your mask is flipping, you are wearing it wrong. Please make sure it is properly secured behind your ears.

Well, said!

Masks will need to be worn well after getting vaccinated,

It will take time for the whole country to be vaccinated.

It takes time for the body to build immunity after being vaccinated.

A lot of people will be afraid to get a vaccine, and they'll also pretend to be vaccinated so they won't have to wear a mask.

I have no doubt it will be available to foreign residents. Can you imagine the outcry from every embassy if it weren't?

The revised law does not clarify whether the scheme will include foreign residents of Japan, but health ministry officials have said they expect them to be covered.

Wow, you'd think this should be out of the question.

Japan enacts law to make coronavirus vaccines free to residents

It's not free, coming from tax money. Better state that Japan enacts law "to make vaccines fully available to residents."

Free not free unless you don’t pay taxes! More tax burden on all just like Fukushima Olympics etc.

Sven AsaiToday 04:19 pm JST

It’s surely not free. It has been paid already or will be cost afterwards, through taxes or expenses being cut in other fields or a higher debt amount of the country.

That's true of ANY governmental expenditure, is it?

Free vaccine for all healthy people, but if you have high fever or already tested positive when you get a vaccine, you can not get it.

Yubaru:

My hope is that THESE elected officials, get in line first to get the virus vaccination. Then I will decide whether or not to get one myself!

Yup! I’m more than happy to let others get the vaccine first. Once we know it’s safe, I’ll join the queue!

No thanks, I don't want to be a tester of these vaccines

The issue of whether foreign residents are included comes up time and time again because Japanese politicians use the word "kokumin" which, as some people love to point out, excludes non-Japanese. Politicians often use "kokumin" just to mean "the people". If they used a different word, like "juumin", silly discussions about whether foreigners are included would not happen.

I am sure some politicians are perfectly aware of this but still use "kokumin" as a xenophobic dog whistle. They think it is good for foreigners to go cap in hand to ask for equal treatment, something which shouldn't even be an issue.

Still, a stunning silence about the AgNes vaccine from Osaka University. A flurry of announcements in mid-year sent the stock shooting up and no doubt AnGes insiders raked in several billion yen, the stock is now 50% down and counting. Another example of complete lack of transparency by the "inscrutable" Japanese, no wonder it's a moribund economy.

Wow! As a foreign American resident in Japan I’m very impressed at how Japan takes care of its citizens. Just hoping Japan will have enough money to cover the expenses. It’s a real concern.

Just look into the history of  AgNes, they have no experience with vaccines prior to this one. Vaccines is one of the most protected industries in Japan, filled with amakudari.

A lot of those big money from government comes with some "promises".

Anyways, I wouldn't want to be dosed with their vaccine, considering their planned 2/3 pivotal trial will only have 500 patients.

https://www.businessinsider.jp/post-224540

Everyone else who make an income in here are not in a vacation. They also pay into the health insurance, pension and city/prefectural taxes.

I'm sorry but pitching in money for beers at a party, doesn't make you part of the household of your host. The same applies here IMO.

But at the end of the day, I don't mind if it's free for everyone JP or not. Anyway, I won't be getting it.

If you want a country open for business, this is the price.

America thanks you for the financial donation. Better than buying military equipment, I suppose.

In the US, the vaccine will be free to people, paid for by costly ACA health insurance plans or medicare.

Best analogy: just because you pitch in for beer money doesn't make you a member of the household. The whiny, non-citizens who pay taxes because they work in Japan and avail themselves of public resources - seemingly suffer from a sense of entitlement or just haven't grasped the concept of 'citizenship' - as if they should be afforded the same status as natives. Certainly not the way it works in The West. That said, the vaccine will be distributed to ALL residents. And. Your taxes don't necessarily 'pay' for the vaccine - the yen is a fiat currency and can be issued without accumulating 'outside debt' - it is in-house borrowing, so-to-speak.

The absurd opining about the vaccine, as if it has not been tested and approved prior to being dispensed, typifies self-centered foreigners who lack a basic science education or just lack awareness..

Good great action.

The revised law does not clarify whether the scheme will include foreign residents of Japan, but health ministry officials have said they expect them to be covered.

The fact that this was even mentioned makes me sick. Can you imagine if there was even the slightest doubt in, say, the UK? It is in Japan's interest to make it freely available to everyone. There are no glass bubbles around non-Japanese.

el rata:

But at the end of the day, I don't mind if it's free for everyone JP or not. Anyway, I won't be getting it.

You complain about foreigners getting it for free, and then you go on to say you'd refuse it.

The decision today was a modification of an already existing law, the Immunization Act of 1948 which covers various immunizations in Japan. The Immunization Act has long covered all legal foreign residents of Japan and Japanese. Just like the 100,000 yen stimulus this past summer and the stimulus we got back in 2009, if I recall all legal foreigners in Japan were eligible as well with no need to change or modify the language of the law.

The Plebes will not be getting it any time soon.

"How will a coronavirus vaccine be rolled out to the UK population?"

"How long it will be before the general public can get immunised also depends on whether the JCVI, the government and NHS decide to vaccinate under-18s. That is being discussed but no decision has yet been taken."

"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/11/how-will-a-coronavirus-vaccine-be-rolled-out-to-the-uk-population:

America thanks you for the financial donation. Better than buying military equipment, I suppose.

In the US, the vaccine will be free to people, paid for by costly ACA health insurance plans or medicare.

I can't think of much more annoying than being with or near an American at an izakaya or restaurant or a coffee shop as everything they say starts with: "Well, in the US, we do it this way."

"Ewww, look at the napkin! In the US we fold our napkins are like this."

Ewww. In the US, we have bigger coffee cups."

Ewww. In the US, we blah, blah, blah"

The vaccines in Britain and America will also be free and most other countries.

https://www.infosectrain.com/courses/iso27001la/

Free or not, I am going to wait and see. Im a bit skeptical to say the least. This new vaccine has not been tested over a long period. That would only mean, it is being tested on the UK first, then the rest of us. Something seems a bit fishy.

In the event that vaccination causes serious side effects, the revised law states the government will cover medical expenses and disability pensions as part of relief measures and shoulder damages on behalf of the vaccine suppliers.

Wow, this is even better than I expected! I’m from the US, for now anyways, and I am not used to seeing or reading stuff like this. Not in my own country anyways.

This is a real sight for sore eyes, that’s what I’m trying to say.

Such negativity escapes me. Japan is about to do the right thing and some of you can only criticize. Are things going so well in your native countries?

Cleo,

My gym mask is secured. The word "flipping" is a euphemism and does not mean literally waving around in the breeze. Not sure why this was taken as my meaning.

"Such negativity escapes me. Japan is about to do the right thing and some of you can only criticize. Are things going so well in your native countries?"

Because haters gonnna hate. As you rightly pointed out, Japan is going to cover the costs for residents to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, regardless of income or nationality. Yet, they complain. I wonder if a Japanese living in the West is going to have to pay for his own shot or are western governments going to cover the costs?

The UK vaccination programme is starting as early as next week. Of course it is free, of course it covers every resident, these aren't even considerations as it is so obvious.

BS, foreigners are excluded. it goes to UK citizens only.

People not entitled to the National Health will probably have to pay.

Food for thought https://www.reuters.com/article/us-astrazeneca-results-vaccine-liability-idUSKCN24V2EN

"You complain about foreigners getting it for free, and then you go on to say you'd refuse it."

In light of vaccine companies being exempt from liability, it's a fair decision. I'm going to wait a little

Free or not, I am going to wait and see. Im a bit skeptical to say the least. This new vaccine has not been tested over a long period. That would only mean, it is being tested on the UK first, then the rest of us. Something seems a bit fishy.

There you have it. If you don't consider the vaccine properly and rigorously tested yet then you can wait for the results of the "test" on the UK population. It will be some time before the vaccine will reach Japan

In light of vaccine companies being exempt from liability

Hmm, is that the case? Didn't catch that, interesting

That's true of ANY governmental expenditure, is it?

Exactly. There is no such thing as free.

Of course nothing can be acquired free.

But if somebody acquired it and then gave it you no charge then it's free, like what my parents and siblings give to me.