01 June 2021 (Tuesday) – Coronavirus Digest from Japanese Morning TV News Part 2 (of 2): I’m vaxxing furious!

[I’m not really, but that old super-lame headline from The Sun about Phil Collins keeps popping into my head.]

See photo captions for stories

Photo 01

[FYI This is the Sun headline I was talking about. 1994…]

Photo 02

Vaccine discrimination

Photo 03

The pic says, “If you don’t get vaccinated you’re fired!”

The guy on the right is in his 40s and works at a care home worker: “I have allergies so I can’t get vaccinated.”

His boss: “Then you’ll have to choose: Either quit, take a leave of absence, or we’ll transfer you.”

Photo 04

The MHLW says that people who may have allergic reactions to ingredients in the vaccine need to be cautious about getting vaccinated. [But it’s not automatically a no.]

Photo 05

The Japan Lawyers’ Federation set up a human rights and discrimination hotline on May 14 and 15 to answer inquiries relating to covid19 and vaccinations.

Photo 06

They received 208 inquiries.

For example:

Care facility worker in her 50s:

I was told, “If you won’t get vaccinated, then take a leave of absence. If a cluster happens, are you prepared to take responsibility for it?”

Woman in her 80s:

The day care service I use told me that if I didn’t get vaccinated, I wouldn’t be allowed to use their day care.

Photo 07

One of the lawyers taking the calls said that there was more pressure than they had imagined being exerted on people who can’t/won’t be vaccinated.

Photo 08

On the HellaWella homepage, it clearly states that vaccinations are not to be pushed on people, people should be getting vaccinated by personal choice and of their own free will.

Photo 09

They ask that nobody indulges in discriminatory behaviour towards people not being vaccinated. such as pressuring work colleagues and people around them,

Photo 10

People who can’t get vaccinated:

People with sudden acute illnesses

People who are hypersensitive to vaccine components and could suffer[/have suffered] an anaphylactic reaction [to vaccines in the past]

Photo 11

People currently being treated for heart, vascular, kidney or autoimmune diseases.

People who may have allergies to vaccine components.

Photo 12

Doctor guy {who has been vaccinated} quotes:

“Vaccines are extremely effective at preventing the onset of severe covid symptoms.

From the point of view of society as a whole, I would like to see as many people as possible get vaccinated.”

“But at the end of the day, each person should be entrusted to make their own decision.”

Photo 13

Lawyer guy advice:
“Tell your workplace it is not allowed to treat [the unvaccinated] disadvantageously.”

Gather objective evidence [of any discrimination]

Gather multiple people [who are in the same situation at your workplace]

“Don’t try and deal with the situation alone.”

[If you can’t get a group of people together,] consult your nearest bar association.

Photo 14

Exec side: How should I deal with workers who won’t get vaccinated?”

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[They run the VTR on the lawyer guy at this point but he doesn’t actually seem to answer the question.]

“As [opportunities for] vaccinations spread [to different age groups etc.], it is possible to imagine that similar issues will spread to companies, schools and other workplaces.”