Photo/Illutration The “discussion space” where the official was made to work after refusing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine (Yuhei Nakahodo)

KOGA, Shiga Prefecture--An official of the fire department of the Koga large area administrative union who refused to have the COVID-19 vaccine quit after the department restricted contact with other employees. 

It also made the official, who is in their 30s, work in a space next to a corridor away from other officials.

The official voluntarily resigned around four months after such treatment began.

The individual agreed to an interview with The Asahi Shimbun.

“I felt (the department’s treatment) was discrimination against officials who didn’t want to get the COVID-19 vaccine,” the former official told The Asahi Shimbun. “I was made an example” of how you are treated for refusing the vaccine, the individual said. 

In April 2021, when the person was working in the disaster-prevention section at the fire department, the dates when officials could receive the COVID-19 vaccine were announced, according to the official.

But the official informed a manager of the intention not to get the vaccine because of a history of developing side effects after having a flu vaccine.

After this, the manager informed the official of other dates to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, but the person still didn’t want it.

Then, the official was instructed to start working in May in a “discussion space” beside a corridor.

The official was restricted access to other spaces such as a changing room as well.

The individual also was instructed to record workplace actions.

In addition, the fire department sent a document in the name of the department chief to the heads of each section.

The document--dated May 13, 2021--was titled “Separating work areas with regard to those who refuse to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.”

The document said the department would limit interactions with other officials for those who refuse to receive the COVID-19 shot. 

It also said the department would limit interactions of such officials with people outside the department, including visitors to its office.

The document was circulated among all department officials.

The official continued working after this document was circulated but started feeling unwell.

The individual voluntarily resigned at the end of August 2021.        

The fire department acknowledged to The Asahi Shimbun that it had treated the official in this manner.

The department explained the reason for such treatment in a document dated June 1 to the newspaper.

“When the coronavirus was regarded as an unknown virus, (the treatment) was to ensure we could perform our work smoothly while trying to prevent the spread of infections,” the document stated. “We didn’t intend to discriminate against the official.”

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