カテゴリー: Information for Daily Life

Regarding the COVID-19 Omicron-Targeting Vaccine

The Gunma Prefectual Government has released some need-to-know information about the new COVID-19 Omicron-targeting vaccine shots.

 *NOTE*

You cannot receive the Omicron-targeting vaccine shot without completing your 1st and 2nd doses, both of which are scheduled to finish at the end of 2022.

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“Why is the vaccination necessary?”

Every winter, many people catch COVID-19 from the end of December to January. COVID-19 vaccines are effective against severe symptoms such as fever, cough, etc. Currently, there is a new COVID-19 vaccine available that targets the omicron variant. It is recommended for all people to receive it.

*The Omicron variant is a kind of COVID-19 viruses. So many people have already caught it. We should stay cautious because it is highly infectious.

  • Eligibility: You must be 12 years or older, have already gotten your 1st-2nd doses, and wait for three months from your last booster.
  • Cost: Free
  • Where to get: Vaccination sites or medical facilities in your city/town/village

 

“What is the benefit of getting the new COVID-19 vaccine?”

The new vaccine is more effective than the ones you received before because it targets both the regular and Omicron varriants of COVID-19.

 

“Is it safe to receive vaccines from different manufacturers?”

Yes, it is safe to receive vaccines manufactured by different makers.

 

“Is the new vaccine safe?”

You will probably have similar side effects as the ones you had from the previous shots, regardless if the manufacturer is Pfizer or Moderna.

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Please keep the following points in mind:

◆Receiving the new vaccine targeting the Omicron variant is recommended even for those who had been infected with COVID-19 before.

◆ You are requested to keep taking anti-infection measures even after getting vaccinated.

◆ Do not force others to get vaccinated.

◆ Do not discriminate against unvaccinated people.

 

If you have any questions, feel free to ask by contacting the numbers below. (*Please note that these numbers are not toll-free.)

(1) Gunma COVID-19 Vaccine Helpline

  • Answers questions about the vaccines and side effects
  • Available 24/7 (in 19 different languages)
  • Tel: 0570-783-910

 

(2) One-Stop Consultation Center for Foreign Residents of Gunma

  • Answers other kinds of questions
  • Hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00-17:00
  • Supports inquiries in 5 different languages
  • Tel: 027-289-8275

 

Alert Level 1 In Gunma (Starting March 4th, 2023)

Request to Gunma Residents,

 

Alert Level 1

Period: Effective Saturday, March 4, 2023

Location: Throughout Gunma

Continue taking precautions against COVID-19 such as wearing a mask as needed.

Instances when wearing a mask is needed:

・When you visit hospitals

・When you get on a crowded train or bus

・ When elderly people, pregnant women, or those with underlying medical conditions go to crowded places

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<Coronavirus Hotline for Gunma Foreign Residents>

Call the number below if you think you might have COVID-19.

Phone: 027-212-0010     24/7

 

<One-Stop Consultation Center for Foreign Residents of Gunma>

Please feel free to contact us if you have any problems with life in Gunma.

Phone:  027-289-8275   Hours:  9:00-17:00  Monday thru Friday

(Closed on weekends, holidays, and
year-end/New Year period)

Language: English, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Chinese, Spanish,

and simple Japanese

 

Coronavirus Hotline for Gunma Foreign Residents

COVID-19 Hotline (foreign language only) run by the Gunma Prefectural Government

The prefectural government has a COVID-19 Hotline dedicated to Gunma residents who are not able to communicate in Japanese. Please call if you are concerned you might have been infected.

Tel:  027-212-0010 (This is not a toll-free number.)

Hours:  24 hours a day, 365 days a year

Languages:  Operators speak 19 languages.  They are English, Portuguese, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Thai, Indonesian, Tagalog, Nepalese, French, German, Italian, Russian, Malay, Khmer, Burmese, Mongolian, and Singhalese.

Pamphlet (English) 

 

One-Stop Consultation Center for Foreign Residents of Gunma

For consultations about daily life in Gunma that are not related to COVID-19

Tel:  027-289-8275

Hours:  Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm

(Closed on weekends, holidays, and year-end & the New Year period)

Languages:  English, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Chinese, Spanish, and simple Japanese)

 

COVID-19 Vaccinations for pregnant women

COVID-19 vaccination is also recommended for people who are pregnant

【Do I need to get vaccinated?】

While you are pregnant, especially in the later stages of pregnancy (8th-month of pregnancy to delivery), you are more vulnerable to developing severe illness with COVID-19 when infected. Source: Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, (2nd Version) Safety of Receiving an mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine During Pregnancy

 

【The Safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy】

Outcomes of the COVID-19 vaccinations administered to pregnant people outside of Japan revealed two things:

  • COVID-19 vaccine would help protect pregnant people and babies against COVID-19.
  • Vaccinations reduce the risk of developing severe illness from COVID-19-related complications. Source: COVID-19 Q&A compiled by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare Ministry

 

People who are currently pregnant can get vaccinated against COVID-19, regardless of what months’ they are pregnant. Think about receiving a vaccine!

Gunma Medical Association Gunma Prefecture

If you want to know more about the Pfizer/Moderna vaccines for COVID-19, visit the Health Ministry’s website. The information is available in 17 languages. To learn about how to make your COVID-19 vaccine appointments, contact your local municipality (city/town/village hall) that is printed on your vaccination coupons (sesshu-ken).

Health Ministry Website

Getting COVID-19 vaccination if you are on provisional release (“karihomen”)

仮放免者のためのワクチン接種券取得と会場予約
Karihomen: How to get the Free Vouchers and Reservation for Covid-19 Vaccination
以下の厚生労働省のサイトに外国人向けの新型コロナワクチンに関する主な情報があります。
You will find most of the information needed for vaccination on the following site of the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare:
① https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/covid-19/vaccine.html
仮放免者も無料の接種券がもらえます。以下の3月31日付の厚生労働省から自治体に送られた事務連絡に記されています。
If you are a Karihomen you are also eligible for the free vaccination vouchers. It is stated in the followingJapanese Health Ministry’s notification dated March 31 2021:

② https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/000763148.pdf
ただし、仮放免者は住民台帳に載っていないため、ワクチン接種券を申請する必要があります。
However, as Karihomenshas are not registered at the City Halls and Ward Offices, you have to apply to get the vouchers.

I  接種券の入手方法 How to get the vaccination vouchers:
(1)ワクチン接種券の申請 Applying for the vaccination vouchers.
市役所または区役所、もしくは市や区の保健所で申請できます。直接行くのが一番簡単かもしれませんが、電話で接種券か申請書を送ってもらえる場合もあります。
In most places, you can apply for the vouchers at the Shiyakusho (City Hall) or the Kuyaku sho (Ward Office), or at the Hokenjo (the Health Center) of each city or ward (ku). It may be easier to go directly but in some cases you can phone and they will send you an application form.
a.   P.3-4の表にある市区についてはどこに行くべきか自治体に確認してあります。
For the municipalities in the list p.3, we have checked where to go

  1. 表にない市区については、上記の厚生労働省の事務連絡書のコピーを持っていくことをお勧めします(3ページ目に仮放免許可証のフォーマットが参考に付されています)。
    For municipalities which are not included, it might be better to bring a copy of the Health Ministry’s 2021.03.31 notification mentioned above.

必ず氏名、住所、生年月日が確認できるよう仮放免許可書を持っていくこと。
仮放免許可書場合はパスポートと住所が分かる入管からの手紙などで代用する。
接種券取得申請書の記入が必要になることがあります。

Be sure to bring your Karihomen Certificate so your name, address and birth date can be checked.
If you don’t have a Certificate you can bring your passport and a letter from immigration to your address for example.  You may be asked to fill in a form to demand the vaccination vouchers.

(2) 接種券はあとで自宅に送られてくることが多いです。個人のものなので、他人に譲渡禁止です。
The vouchers are usually sent by mail later to your home address. They are personal vouchers and it is prohibited to transfer them to anyone.
接種券の例 Voucher sample: https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/samplevaccinationvoucher.pdf
Ⅱ予約方法 How to reserve the place and date of the vaccination
(1) 医療施設または大規模接種会場を探す。Find available medical institutions and vaccination sites
予約できる施設は① 自治体のサイトか、② コロナワクチンNaviまたは③「Yahoo!くらし」で探せます。後者は例えば「越谷市Yahoo!くらし」を検索すると「埼玉県越谷市 – Yahoo!くらし」のページの中ほどにワクチン接種できる病院の地図が出てきます。病院をクリックすると予約の電話番号が分かります。
You can look for a vaccination site: ① at the site of the municipality,
or ② on the Covid Vaccine Navi:  https://v-sys.mhlw.go.jp/en/search/

or ③ at “Yahoo! Kurashi”. For example if you live in Koshigaya-shi you should look up “Koshigaya-shi Yahoo! Kurashi”then Click the first site ⇒「埼玉県越谷市 」- If you scroll down you will find a map with the different clinics or big Vaccination Centers in each municipality. And if you click a Clinic or Hospital, you will have the name and phone number.
(2) 接種会場、日時を予約する。Reserve for vaccination.
日本語が読めない場合は病院か予約センターに電話すると簡単です(市区によって予約方法が異なる)。
If you can’t read Japanese, the easiest way is to phone the Hospital or the Yoyaku (reservation) Center.
予約電話を入れるときは氏名、生年月日と接種券の10桁の番号が必要です。1回目と3~4週間後の2回目を同時に予約できる場合もあります。
When you phone to reserve for vaccination you will be asked your name, your date of birth, and the ten digit number over the bar-code on your voucher. The date you can get a reservation depends on your age (see the ① link above), whether you are vulnerable because of chronic disease and the availability at the hospital.
You may be able to reserve both the first dose and the second dose 3 (Pfizer) or 4weeks (Moderna) later.

 

予約時にワクチン接種後1週間はジョギングやウエートリフティング等の激しい運動は避けるよう勧められていることに注意を。
When reserving, remember it is recommended not to do hard exercise like jogging or weight lifting during the week after the vaccination.
Ⅲ その他の情報は厚労省のリンク参照。For further information, check the Ministry of Health link at the top.
On the day of vaccination you will need your vouchers, your Karihomen Certificate and the questionnaire on your health (the translations in 17 languages in the ① Ministry of Health link).
The shot is given to the shoulder muscle so dress accordingly.

 

 

市区名
Name of City or Ward (ku)
接種券の入手 To get the Vouchers
(Be sure to bring your Karihomen Kyokasho toprove where you live.)
予約するにはTo reserve
First look up the map on the kurashi yahoo site, choose one or two hospitals then dial the Call Center or the hospital
東京都 Tokyo
足立区
Adachi-ku
足立区コロナワクチン予約・相談ダイヤル
Adachi-ku Corona Vaccine Yoyaku DialTel:03-4335-45588:00 to 20:00 (毎日Every day)
Give your address etc. and they will send you a demand to fill in and send back with a copy of your Karihomen certificate.
Then they will send you the coupons.
https://kurashi.yahoo.co.jp/tokyo/13121Ex:医療法人社団 苑田会 苑田第二病院
03-3850-5723
中山内科クリニック
03-3859-5711
Then call the Hospital or the “Adachiku Corona Vaccine Yoyaku Dial” mentioned  left.
練馬区
Nerima-ku
練馬区役所住民接種担当係
03-5984-1633
電話すると再発行申請書が届き、仮放免許可書のコピーをつけて返送すれば、接種券を送る。または区役所に行く。
Go to the Nerima-kuyakusho(City Hall)to the Jyumin Sesshu Tanto Gakari. You will fill a demand and the vouchers will be sent to you.
https://kurashi.yahoo.co.jp/tokyo/13120
墨田区
Sumida-ku
墨田区ワクチン接種課
03-5608-1590
Go to the Sumida-KuyakushoVaccine Sesshu Ka.
https://kurashi.yahoo.co.jp/tokyo/13107
豊島区
Toshima-ku
池袋保健センター2階
Go to Ikebukuro Hoken Center 2nd Floor (Next to Sunshine City, Higashi Ikebukuro Station) See the following map
保健所移転のお知らせ(修正版) (toshima.lg.jp)
https://kurashi.yahoo.co.jp/tokyo/13116
埼玉県                  Vouchers                    Reservation
春日部市
Kasukabe-shiKasukabe-shi
(春日部市)健康課 新型コロナウイルスワクチン接種担当048-736-1111 内線:3673Go to Kasukabe Shiyakusho(City Hall)Bekkan(annex) 5th Floor 501, Corona Virus Vaccine Tanto. https://kurashi.yahoo.co.jp/saitama/11214
川越市
Kawagoe-shi
川越市ワクチン接種対策室
049-229-4127 Mr Seno
川越市保健所JR西川越駅。
Go to Kawagoe Hokenjo (Behind the Hoken Center) JR Nishi-Kawagoe Station
20 minutes walk.
https://kurashi.yahoo.co.jp/saitama/11201 
坂戸市
Sakado-shi
坂戸市市民健康センター、予防係
〒350-0212 埼玉県坂戸市大字石井2327-3
Tel 049-284-1621
仮放免許可証を送るか(接種券を送ってほしいと一筆書いて)または直接持っていくか(北坂戸駅徒歩20分)
Send an envelope with a copy of the Karihomen Kyokasho and a note asking for the vouchers for vaccination. Or go to the Sakado shi Shimin Kenko Center.
https://kurashi.yahoo.co.jp/saitama/11239 Phone the hospital or the place you want to reserve.
茨城県 Coupons           Reservation
牛久市 牛久市保健センター
0298-73-2111(Yoshihara or Noguchi)
電話で氏名・生年月日・住所を知らせ、自宅に送ってもらった。
(仮放免許可証は接種会場で確認)
It is possible to get the coupons sent to the address of the Karihomen.
Choose from the map in
https://kurashi.yahoo.co.jp/ibaraki/08219 Phone: 牛久市ワクチン予約センター
Ushiku-shi Vaccine Yoyaku Center0570-006-117
Ex: 河合医院(牛久駅5分)
Kawai Iin (5 min from Ushiku Station)
栃木県
小山市 小山市役所
Go to the Shiyaku sho.
https://kurashi.yahoo.co.jp/tochigi/09208 Phone directly to the hospital of your choice, preferably one you already went to.

 

Important Notice about COVID-19 Vaccinations (from Takasaki city)

Foreign residents registered in Takasaki are also eligible for vaccination. 

As of the end of May, vaccination has only started for people aged 80 years and older. The start of vaccinations for people 79 years and younger is not yet decided. Please be patient and wait for the announcement of the start of vaccinations for your age group.

Rollout schedule 

  1. Vaccination COUPONS* arrive by post (keep them in a safe place, they are needed on vaccination day)  *The vaccination COUPONS are printed on one A4-sized sticker paper. They will arrive in an envelope with other documents related to the vaccination.
  2. A POSTCARD from Takasaki city arrives to let you know when your age group is eligible for vaccination
  3. Make a vaccination appointment from the date stated on the POSTCARD

Vaccination appointments (people who have received a POSTCARD)

COVID-19 Vaccination documents in various languages

The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has translated various COVID-19 vaccination-related documents into foreign languages and posted them on their website

Please note that the translated documents are FOR YOUR REFERENCE ONLY.

Fill out the original “Prevaccination Screening Questionnaire for COVID-19 Vaccine” that was sent to you with your vaccination vouchers, using the translation as a guide.

 

For those who’ve had the COVID-19 vaccination (possible side effects)

After you get the vaccination jab, please don’t go home right away.  It is strongly recommended that you stay at least 15 minutes at the vaccinaction center to observe for any side effects.

If you have any of the following symptoms within 30 minutes of the vaccination being administered, please notify medical staff at the center. 

  • Paleness
  • Haziness, feeling faint
  • Sneezing
  • Itchy throat
  • Breathing difficulties
  • Blurry eyesight
  • Stomachache
  • Nausea
  • Skin itchiness
  • Skin rash/flushed complexion

If you experience any of these symptoms after returning home from getting vaccinated, call:

Gunma COVID-19 Vaccine Helpline
Tel: 0570-783-910
24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 19 languages are available.

YouTube video about side-effects of the vaccination

Immigration Agency Email Distribution Service

The Immigration Services Agency is now accepting registration for its email distribution service.

They send useful information by email to foreign residents in Japan, related to residency laws and other relevant issues.

See the English pamphlet here for details on how to register.