noun
General term for a person who shoots a bow, gun, or similar weapon. Compare with 射手 (いて), which is more common for archer.
See also: 射手 (いて)
彼は弓の打ち手として名高い。
He is famous as an archer.
noun
vaccinator; inoculator
Only when written 打ち手 / 打手
Colloquial term for a person who administers vaccines or inoculations. Restricted to kanji forms with 打 (打ち手, 打手).
ワクチンの打ち手が足りない。
We are short of vaccinators.
noun
drummer; taiko drummer
Only when written 打ち手 / 打手
Refers to a person who plays a drum, especially a taiko. Restricted to kanji forms with 打 (打ち手, 打手).
祭りで太鼓の打ち手が活躍した。
The taiko drummers performed actively at the festival.
射手 is the standard word for 'archer' or 'shooter', while 打ち手 is a less common alternative that can also mean 'vaccinator' or 'drummer' depending on context.
Compound of 打ち (uchi, 'striking' or 'shooting') + 手 (te, 'person'). The kanji 撃ち is used specifically for shooting. The colloquial 'vaccinator' sense derives from the use of 打つ for injections.