Abstract
Since February 2021, when COVID-19 vaccinations were first administered to healthcare workers, cases of vaccine-related deaths and adverse effects have been reported. However, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has consistently refrained from actively disclosing these incidents, repeatedly asserting that "no serious concerns have been identified." Mainstream media outlets have also failed to report these adverse effects. On the contrary, narratives labeling individuals who voice concerns about vaccine-related harm as mentally unstable have been propagated, leading to stigmatization, harassment, and social exclusion of those who speak out. Pharmaceutical harm is not only a medical issue but also a social one, encompassing exclusion and isolation. Recovery from such harm entails reintegration into society and the restoration of social connections. Through the activities of Kakekomidera 2020, an advocacy group supporting families who lost loved ones to COVID-19 vaccination and individuals suffering from vaccine-related aftereffects, led by Kazuhisa Ukawa, the unwellness of a society that fails to allow basic acts of assistance to those in need becomes evident. This study aims to shed light on the necessity of viewing this societal dysfunction from an external perspective and reclaiming freedom and spontaneity in our actions as a means to restore the health of society.
