BCCJ x TKP Booster Drive

In June 2021, the BCCJ launched its Vaccination Accelerator (VA) programme, a collaboration betweeen the Chamber and Japanese partner organisation TKP, supporting the Japanese Government’s Occupational Innoculation programme. This initiative enabled us to secure vaccinations for over 1,250 BCCJ “patients” (chamber member company employees and families), and facilitate vaccine access for over 3000 “patients” from other international chambers of commerce and Embassies in Tokyo.

With the recent surge in coronavirus cases across Japan linked to the Omicron variant, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida Japan has announced plans to accelerate Japan’s COVID-19 booster rollout. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan has been offering booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to medical workers since December 1, 2021, and has recently extended this offer to people aged 65 and older. After key workers and vulnerable groups across Japan have received the option of booster shots, doses will begin to be administered at some workplaces and selected university campuses from March onwards.

To support Japan’s COVID-19 efforts, the BCCJ will once again team up with TKP on a Booster Drive, for employees and family members and friends of BCCJ member companies, from Tuesday March 22, 2022 until the end of June 2022. The booster offered by this programme will be the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and will cost JPY2,500 + tax, per “patient”.

In order to qualify for this BCCJ x TKP Booster Drive, patients must:

• be 18 years or older
• receive the booster in a group of at least 50 people
• have received their first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in Japan
• have received their first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine at least 7 months before receiving a booster
• have received / will receive a voucher coupon by post, from their local municipality (i.e. be a Japan resident)
• be a BCCJ member company employee, family member or affiliate

Patients do not have to have received their first or second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine through the 2021 BCCJ x TKP Vaccination Accelerator programme.

The role of the BCCJ

If your company would like to arrange booster doses for groups of 50 people or more, the BCCJ team will support you to make arrangements with third-party vaccination provider TKP directly through their website. Applications open on Monday, January 17 at 1600. Please inform the BCCJ at [email protected] if you apply directly using the TKP link so we can track progress and be on hand to support if necessary.

Similar to last year, the BCCJ will also arrange for companies and individual members to “buddy-up” into groups of 50 “patients” to receive booster jabs at a location in central Tokyo.

If you / your company / family members are interested in receiving a Moderna booster dose through the BCCJ’s Booster Drive, please email Associate Director Sarah Backley at [email protected] ASAP with your exact number of patients.

With sincere thanks for your continued support, and we look forward to traversing a healthy and prosperous Year of the Tiger with you.