The Immigration Services Agency (ISA) is set to open COVID-19 vaccination centers in Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka specifically for foreign residents in order to give those struggling with language barriers easier access to the shots.
The centers will open next week in the three major cities, with interpreters covering 13 languages standing by to offer services at the sites.
“We’ve received many calls from foreign residents who don’t understand Japanese who said that they received their vaccination ticket but can’t make a reservation as they don’t know what’s written on it,” an Immigration Services Agency official said. “So that reminded us that there may be many foreign residents who are struggling to get vaccinated."