COVID-19 Vaccination Vouchers in Japan: Guide for Foreign Residents

COVID-19 Vaccination in Japan

It’s now been over a year and a half since the COVID-19 pandemic gripped the world, and it continues to be a trying time for people everywhere.

COVID-19 vaccinations are being fully rolled out in Japan. As long as you have official residence status in Japan, even if you’re not a Japanese national, you can get your vaccine covered free of charge. Our writer, an international resident himself, has already received his vaccination voucher in the mail. In this article, we’ll introduce the papers and documents included in these envelopes.

Vaccination schedules will vary by municipality, so be sure to check your municipality’s website for accurate information specific to your district.

We strongly encourage you to visit the official COVID-19 Vaccine website of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, which provides detailed information in English regarding the vaccination procedure.

On the Multilingual Vaccine Information page of the official website, you can find translations of necessary documents and guidelines in 17 languages. These documents include the prevaccination screening questionnaire, vaccination instructions, and COVID-19 vaccination notice. (*The questionnaire has to be filled in Japanese, but you can use the translation in your language for reference.)

The article below provides a brief outline of the procedure based on the official website of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

Vaccination Vouchers

The most important piece in this envelope will be the document with your vaccination voucher number. This ten-digit number is required, whether you receive your vaccine through your municipality or at an SDF mass-vaccination center.

The blank space at the bottom of the document is where your vaccination voucher and proof of vaccination certificate will be pasted. Full vaccination requires two separate vaccine doses, so you will be given two vaccination voucher barcodes for a total of four labels. Do not peel off the label, and be sure to bring the entire document to the vaccination center to show your voucher number to the staff members.

Notice Regarding COVID-19 Vaccination

The notice regarding COVID-19 vaccination contains extremely important information, so please try to read the entire notice (*). It includes information on the vaccination process, including how to find a center administering the vaccine, appointments, type of vaccine, and what to bring with you.

Please check the Multilingual COVID-19 Vaccine Information page of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare for translations of all the necessary documents. The information is currently available in 17 languages.

*: Papers and documents will vary by region.

COVID-19 Vaccine Leaflet

Check the top right corner of your COVID-19 vaccine leaflet to find out which vaccine is being administered by your municipality.

The leaflet will give detailed information on the effectiveness of the vaccine, how it is administered, and the amount administered. It’ll also provide information on health conditions that can pose additional risks, or make people ineligible for vaccination. Please read over the leaflet carefully to determine whether these apply to you.

It will also have thorough information on what precautions to take, and what relief systems are available after getting vaccinated. Remember to read over this information carefully before getting your shot.

Vaccine Screening Questionnaire

A short medical screening with a doctor is required before your vaccination. This screening questionnaire will be used for this purpose. A COVID-19 vaccination request form is located at the bottom of the page, but you can wait to fill it out when you get your vaccine.

You can find translations of the Prevaccination Screening Questionnaire in 17 languages on the Multilingual COVID-19 Vaccine Information page of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Please note that these translations can be used only for reference and that the questionnaire has to be filled in Japanese.

What to Prepare Beforehand

The COVID-19 vaccine is a new type of preventive medicine, developed using new technology. It has been reported that after getting a vaccine dose, side effects such as fever, arm soreness, and fatigue can occur. You may wish to consult with a pharmacist or doctor beforehand, and have pain relievers on hand to help alleviate these symptoms.

Vaccination Glossary

We've put together a list of COVID vaccine-related names and terms that are often heard in the news in Japan.

Please note that this article is not medical advice. We hope this informal guide to the materials provided by our writer's municipality helps you understand your own vaccination voucher and related materials.

We strongly encourage you to visit the official COVID-19 Vaccine website of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, which provides detailed information in English regarding the vaccination procedure. The official website lists call centers that can be contacted for further details and advice.

Main image by Pixta