Inoculation for ANA and JAL staff begins... International pilots can feel safer at work

    Two major airline companies have begun COVID-19 vaccination for their staff. Everyone associated with ANA Holdings will begin inoculation from the 13th and the 14th for JAL. All pilots and flight attendants at Haneda airport will have vaccine priority.

ANA flight attendant receiving the vaccine.
June 13, 2021, Haneda Airport.
Photo by Shuuhei Yokoyama (横山就平)

　The government said that they could start inoculating from the 21st but also suggested the possibility of moving it earlier. Both companies moved the date up. After getting his vaccine, Yoshiharu Tsuruzawa, an ANA pilot said, "It's a great relief to feel safe while working on international flights."

    Yomiuri Shimbun also began their inoculation, vaccinating over 5000 people. They began on the 14th at the local clinic, called "Yomiuri Clinic", located within their Tokyo main office.

　Preparing for the early phases of the vaccine rollout, they moved the dates up. The 5000 people eligible for the vaccine were the staff at the main branch, the Yomiuri Giants, all the staff from associated organizations and their families, and also the childcare workers in the building, along with essential workers there.

　Those with underlying conditions, nursery school staff in the building, and cafeteria staff were also given priority. Media companies reporting on the Olympics and Paralympics, Nippon TV, Hochi Shimbun, and Fukushima Minyu Shimbun will also be able to receive the vaccine early if they wish to.

　The rollout will expand accordingly to the surrounding Yomiuri stores around Tokyo. Those include the chief executives and their board members.

　The Yomiuri Clinic began their preparation for the vaccine rollout in February. They vaccinated about 40 staff members in the clinic and surrounding medical institutions in the area. They also prepared to vaccinate the elderly and people with underlying medical conditions outside of the company. Furthermore, the government announced policies on workplace vaccinations earlier this month after consulting health care centers and began the process for applications.

　Preparations were quickly made: hiring doctors and nurses, and getting supplies and equipment. This made the rollout possible to start on the 14th. From the 21st, more doctors and nurses will be able to support the vaccination staff.

　Aside from the Yomiuri group, the staff from the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED), which is also in the same building, might be able to get their vaccination from the same clinic. The clinic also plans to vaccinate people who are registered patients in the clinic as well as residents in the same area. They are currently reviewing methods on how to verify identities and manage vaccination records.

Source: https://yomidr.yomiuri.co.jp/article/20210614-OYT1T50023/?catname=news-kaisetsu_news