In applying measures based on New Border Measures (28) (May 20, 2022), COVID-19 vaccination certificates recognized as valid since July 31, 2022, in principle, fall under any of the categories 1. or 2. below.
- COVID-19 vaccination certificates issued in Japan which fall under any of the categories (1)-(3) below, and prove that at least three doses of COVID-19 vaccine are inoculated.
- (1) COVID-19 vaccination certificates issued by either the Government of Japan or a local public authority/municipality in Japan (The COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate for overseas travel)
- (2) Documents to prove vaccination for COVID-19 issued by a local public authority/municipality in Japan
- (3) Records of Vaccination for COVID-19 issued by medical institutions in Japan
- COVID-19 vaccination certificates issued abroad which fulfill all the three requirements (1)-(3) below.
- (1) All relevant items described below should be listed on the certificate either in Japanese or English:
Name, date of birth, product name or manufacturer of vaccines, vaccination date, number of COVID-19 vaccine doses (Note 1)- (Note 1) COVID-19 vaccination certificates written in languages other than Japanese or English are considered as valid if the translation (Japanese/English) is attached and all the items are clearly identifiable.
- (2) The certificate should prove that at least two doses (As for JCOVDEN / Janssen, one dose is treated as two doses) of any of the COVID-19 vaccines described in the table a. below are inoculated, and any of the COVID-19 vaccines described in the table b. below is inoculated for the third vaccination or after. (Note 2)
- a. COVID-19 vaccines up to the second dose:
Product Name or Manufacturer COMIRNATY, Intramuscular injection / Pfizer Vaxzevria, Intramuscular injection / AstraZeneca (Note 3) Spikevax, Intramuscular injection / Moderna JCOVDEN / Janssen COVAXIN / Bharat Biotech Nuvaxovid, Intramuscular injection / Novavax (Note 3) - (Note 2) Mix-and-match vaccines are also considered as valid.
- (Note 3) In applying measures based on New Border Measures (28), COMIRNATY manufactured by Fosun Pharma / BioNTech and Covishield / COVOVAX manufactured by the Serum Institute of India are treated as identical to COMIRNATY, Intramuscular injection / Pfizer and Vaxzevria, Intramuscular injection / AstraZeneca, Nuvaxovid, Intramuscular injection / Novavax respectively.
- b. COVID-19 vaccines for the third dose or after:
Product Name or Manufacturer COMIRNATY, Intramuscular injection / Pfizer (Note 4) Spikevax, Intramuscular injection / Moderna Nuvaxovid, Intramuscular injection / Novavax (Note 4) Vaxzevria, Intramuscular injection / AstraZeneca (Note 4) JCOVDEN / Janssen COVAXIN / Bharat Biotech
Note : To be recognized as valid after 0:00am(JST) July 31, 2022 - (Note 4) In applying measures based on New border measures (28), COMIRNATY manufactured by Fosun Pharma / BioNTech and Covishield / COVOVAX manufactured by the Serum Institute of India are treated as identical to COMIRNATY, Intramuscular injection / Pfizer and Vaxzevria, Intramuscular injection / AstraZeneca, Nuvaxovid, Intramuscular injection / Novavax respectively.
- a. COVID-19 vaccines up to the second dose:
- (3) The certificate should be issued by an official body, such as a government.
- (1) All relevant items described below should be listed on the certificate either in Japanese or English:
As a seasoned expert in international health regulations and COVID-19 vaccination protocols, I bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to elucidate the intricacies of the New Border Measures implemented on May 20, 2022. My expertise extends to the latest developments, evidencing a comprehensive understanding of the vaccination certificate criteria outlined in the provided article.
Firstly, let's delve into the specifics of COVID-19 vaccination certificates valid since July 31, 2022, under the New Border Measures. Certificates from Japan must adhere to categories (1)-(3) to establish the inoculation of at least three doses:
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Government or Local Public Authority/Municipality Issued Certificates: These certificates, such as the COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate for overseas travel, fall under category (1).
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Documents from Local Public Authorities/Municipalities: Certificates issued by local entities in Japan, falling under category (2), are also recognized.
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Medical Institution Records: Category (3) includes records of vaccination issued by medical institutions in Japan.
Furthermore, international certificates must meet the following three requirements:
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Certificate Information: Certificates must include specific details in either Japanese or English, such as name, date of birth, vaccine product name or manufacturer, vaccination date, and the number of COVID-19 vaccine doses.
- Note: Certificates in languages other than Japanese or English are valid if accompanied by a clear translation.
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Dosing Requirements: Certificates must prove at least two doses of specified vaccines (COMIRNATY, Vaxzevria, Spikevax, JCOVDEN, COVAXIN, Nuvaxovid) for the first two doses, with the third dose or later from a different set of vaccines. Mix-and-match vaccines are considered valid.
- Note: Certain vaccines, like COMIRNATY by Fosun Pharma/BioNTech and Covishield/COVOVAX by the Serum Institute of India, are treated as identical to their counterparts.
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Official Issuance: The certificate must be issued by an official body, such as a government, to be deemed valid.
It's crucial to note that these measures, based on New Border Measures (28), are effective from July 31, 2022, onward. The guidelines ensure a standardized approach to recognizing and validating COVID-19 vaccination status, fostering international travel with a focus on public health and safety.
