Smartnews COVID-19 Vaccine Alert Reaches 1 Million Users in Japan

SmartNews Vaccine Tools Gain Rapid Adoption in Japan

SmartNews has announced that its vaccine booking assistance tools for Japanese users have surpassed one million users within a single week of their launch.

The news aggregation platform developed Vaccine Alert and Map features specifically for its Japanese application in response to widespread frustration regarding the pace of the COVID-19 vaccination program.

Addressing Vaccine Rollout Challenges

In contrast to the United States, where vaccination rates are progressing more quickly, SmartNews recently introduced a similar feature for its American users, enabling them to locate appointments based on their ZIP code.

The company currently boasts over 20 million monthly active users across both Japan and the United States.

Public Sentiment and Information Gaps

A recent survey conducted by Nippon TV revealed that over 70% of the Japanese population expresses dissatisfaction with the slow vaccine rollout.

This sentiment aligns with SmartNews’ own research, which involved a survey of 900 individuals aged 65 to 79 in early April.

The survey indicated that more than 90% of respondents felt a lack of sufficient information regarding vaccine availability and scheduling.

A key challenge identified was the absence of a centralized system for vaccine booking information, leading to a surge in inquiries directed towards local government offices and healthcare facilities.

How SmartNews’ Tools Work

To develop its Vaccine Alert and Map, SmartNews compiled data from 1,741 municipalities throughout Japan.

The Vaccine Alert feature informs users of their eligibility for vaccination based on factors such as location, age, occupation, and pre-existing health conditions.

The Vaccine Map integrates data from approximately 37,000 healthcare facilities, allowing users to identify nearby booking availability or receive notifications when their preferred providers begin accepting reservations.

Rapid User Growth and Media Coverage

Launched on April 12th, coinciding with the commencement of vaccinations for elderly citizens in Japan, the features quickly attracted over one million users within a week.

This rapid adoption is attributed to SmartNews’ established position as a leading news aggregator in Japan, as well as coverage from TV Asahi, a prominent television network.

A company spokesperson shared with TechCrunch that while many users were existing SmartNews subscribers, the new features have also driven new app downloads through word-of-mouth sharing of vaccination appointment information.