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JAPAN made arrangements for COVID-19 vaccination passports to be accepted by more than 10 countries, including Italy, France and Greece, after the certificate program started in late July, a government source said, quoted by Kyodo News Agency.
If an agreement is reached, the certificate holder will be released from quarantine or show a negative COVID-19 test result while traveling from Japan to those countries, the sources said.
However, the Japanese government plans to continue to require travelers entering Japan, including those returning, to be quarantined for two weeks even if they have been vaccinated. “The position has complicated negotiations with countries such as Singapore, which have called for mutual release,” the source said.
A so-called vaccine passport is an official document that shows a person has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. While the certificate, which will be issued by the city government, will include the name of the holder, passport number and date of vaccination.
Businesses in Japan have called for the introduction of vaccine passports. The country’s largest business lobby, the Japan Business Federation, known as Keidanren, in late June proposed that the certificates come in digital format.
Japan is said to have lagged behind the United States and Britain in its COVID-19 vaccination efforts. However, it has stepped up efforts to vaccinate citizens ahead of the Tokyo Olympics starting on July 23.
A “quasi-emergency” has also been in place for urban areas such as Tokyo amid concerns over the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus.
“Until we see the spread of the Delta variant subside, it will be difficult to allow mutual quarantine releases,” a Japanese government source said.
Japan has a massive entry ban on foreign nationals to contain the pandemic, unless those with consent are given in “special exceptional circumstances.” Travelers entering Japan are required to stay at the designated home or facility for 14 days after arrival.
The EU has its own digital vaccination passport for EU citizens and residents. Certificate holders are exempt from testing and quarantine when traveling to other countries within the block.
The World Health Organization (WHO) does not support the creation of mandatory vaccine passports for travelers because equal access to the COVID-19 vaccine has not been ensured. [antaranews/photo special]
