Rakuten is to collaborate on a mass vaccination centre in Kobe, Japan - is aiming at 1000 a day

• Kobe City, Kobe University, Kobe University Hospital, Jikei University School of Medicine Department of Surgery, SBC Medical, Vissel Kobe, Rakuten and Rakuten Medical Announce Collaboration to Establish COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Center Operations at Noevir Stadium Kobe

• Rakuten Medical will act as coordinator - the Collaboration aims for rapid, efficient vaccinations via Japan’s first mass vaccination model supported by industry, academia and government

Kobe City, May 21, 2021 - Kobe City, Kobe University, Kobe University Hospital, Jikei University School of Medicine Department of Surgery, SBC Medical Group, Rakuten, Vissel Kobe, Inc., Rakuten Group, Inc., and Rakuten Medical Japan K.K. today announced a collaboration to establish a new large-scale COVID-19 vaccination center at Vissel Kobe’s home stadium, Noevir Stadium Kobe, which will allow for rapid and efficient mass vaccination operations.

This collaboration aims for rapid, efficient vaccinations via Japan’s first mass vaccination model supported by industry, academia and government. Vaccination appointments open for reservation on May 22, while vaccinations will begin on May 31. Vaccination capacity is planned to be several thousand people per day. The eight parties collaborating in this project will also coordinate with previously selected venues as much as possible in order to further accelerate the vaccination rollout and end the spread of COVID-19 as soon as possible.

As the organization hosting this collaboration, Kobe City will direct and supervise the overall vaccination operation. Kobe University and Kobe University Hospital will dispatch doctors, physicians in residency, medical students, nurses, pharmacists and other medical personnel mainly on weekends, while SBC Medical will dispatch doctors, nurses and other medical personnel mainly on weekdays. In addition, Kobe University Hospital and SBC Medical will advise on the rollout of vaccination operations from a medical and efficiency perspective. Jikei University will lend its full support to this initiative by dispatching doctors on weekdays and weekends. Vissel Kobe will provide facilities at Noevir Stadium Kobe as well as support staff, including team doctors and other medical personnel. Rakuten will work closely with Kobe City to set up venue operations, dispatch staff, set up systems and secure necessary supplies, while Rakuten Medical will coordinate with medical institutions and secure medical personnel. Furthermore, Rakuten and Rakuten Medical will act as coordinators for the parties involved in order to address and resolve the vaccination program’s core challenges.

The Japanese government has set a target of one million shots per day in order to complete the vaccination of people aged 65 and older by the end of July.  Establishment of as many venues as possible for vaccination is essential to accelerating the vaccination rollout. The eight parties listed above will work together in close coordination through this industry, academia and government-supported collaboration to quickly establish a mass vaccination center at Noevir Stadium Kobe, with the goal of creating a successful model for efficient vaccination rollouts.

At the same time, establishing rapid and efficient mass vaccination operations is not possible without the support of additional healthcare workers and staff. Vissel Kobe, Rakuten, and Rakuten Medical will recruit medical personnel who will be responsible for vaccinations at Noevir Stadium Kobe. In addition, plans are in place to collaborate with local medical institutions and other organizations in order to develop a more robust vaccination system. Kobe University, Kobe University Hospital, Jikei University and SBC Medical, along with the medical institutions and healthcare professionals who join in this initiative, will be responsible for administering vaccinations.

The eight collaborators will work together through these initiatives in order to establish rapid, efficient mass vaccination operations and contribute to ending the pandemic as soon as possible.