Japan’s ‘home visit’ care workers not to be given vaccine priority

By Barrier Free Japan with extracts translated From TV Asahi

February 22 2021

The Japanese government wants to start priority vaccinations for the new coronavirus to care workers who work in facilities for the elderly. In fact, even in the same long-term care work, those who work in facilities such as elderly homes are eligible for priority vaccination, but those who work in home-visit care are not.

Kayaka Ishii (29), who has been working for her home-visit care for four years, is not eligible for priority vaccination. She says she’s anxious, as she travels to six destinations in a day. She says,: “Honestly, I was surprised. I want it as soon as possible. I don’t know if I’m infected if I’m asymptomatic. I’m very anxious because some people have chronic diseases. “

Why is home-visit care not covered by priority vaccination? According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, there is a risk of clusters in the facility and it is necessary to continue business even if the infection spreads. On the other hand, home-visit care can be handled by changing people even if the caregiver becomes infected.

However, the director of the office where Ishii works says, “There is not enough manpower.”

Sachiko Komatsu, Director of Helper Station: “Since the state of emergency was declared last year, some helpers were so nervous that they wanted to quit. About 8 to 9 people retired.

At this office, even after the user was infected, he wore protective clothing and provided long-term care. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare requires businesses to continue home-visit care during home care after a user is infected. This is because the bed is tight.

There are about 2.1 million long-term care workers nationwide, and about a quarter of them are home-visit long-term care staff. Ishii now thinks that more and more people are quitting their job due to anxiety about the new corona infection.