The government is planning to establish a system in which Japanese nationals living abroad can temporarily return to Japan to receive a COVID-19 vaccine if they wish to do so.
There has been a growing demand from Japanese nationals living in developing countries, where medical and health care systems are not well organized, to receive a vaccine. The government is working to prepare vaccination sites and other facilities so Japanese living abroad can start receiving their vaccinations as early as this month.
Through embassies and other such institutions, the government is asking Japanese nationals abroad about their requests regarding vaccinations, which are expected to be free.
In principle, residents in Japan are supposed to be vaccinated at a location designated by their local government.
However, there are cases in which Japanese nationals living abroad do not have a residence registry in Japan. In light of this and border control measures, the government is planning to have them receive their vaccinations at locations designated by the central government, such as near airports.
About 1.41 million Japanese nationals are living abroad as of October 2019, according to the Foreign Ministry. It is possible for Japanese nationals to be vaccinated in developed countries, while many of the developing countries do not know when they will receive a vaccine shipment.
Many Japanese reportedly are inclined to avoid seeing doctors at local medical institutions in developing countries.
"Many [Japanese nationals] want to return home just for vaccination," said a Foreign Ministry official.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
