WHO panel against requiring vaccination proof for travel

‘The World Health Organisation’s emergency committee said Monday (April 19) it was against international travellers being required to have proof of vaccination, partly on grounds such a measure would deepen inequities.

“Do not require proof of vaccination as a condition of entry, given the limited (although growing) evidence about the performance of vaccines in reducing transmission and the persistent inequity in the global vaccine distribution,” the committee said in a statement summarising its April 15 meeting, the results of which were only published on Monday.

“States Parties are strongly encouraged to acknowledge the potential for requirements of proof of vaccination to deepen inequities and promote differential freedom of movement,” the committee added.’

Read here (Straits Times, Apr 19, 2021)

Everything you need to know about “vaccine passports”

‘Countries with digital vaccine certificates in the works include Israel, China, Japan, United Arab Emirates, the Philippines, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland, the UK, Estonia, Australia, France, and Singapore. Other projects are more international in scope. The EU Commission hopes to launch a Digital Green Certificate that will allow travel between EU countries by summer. Airlines and various international consortia are in the process of developing passes that would work across borders and facilitate international travel. (These include the IATA travel pass, the CommonPass, American Airlines’ VeriFly, the ICC AOKpass, and IBM’s Digital Health Pass.) 

‘Elizabeth Renieris, a technology and human rights fellow at Harvard’s Carr Center for Human Rights Policy and former policy counsel for Evernym, points out that governing bodies like the EU Commission have never rolled out technology close to this before—no interoperable digital passports, ID cards, or driver’s licenses. “How can there be such an accelerated rollout for something that has never been done before for any other purpose?” Renieris asks. “To attempt this for the first time, and to do it at such high stakes with such potentially severe risks to very fundamental freedoms, just feels like a very rash move.” 

Read here (Mother Jones, Apr 2, 2021)

Covid-19: Dangerous dance with complacency – P Gunasegaram

‘Early signals of rising rates of Covid-19 infection should be taken seriously, and appropriate measures enforced to prevent a resurgence in the pandemic. Stronger moves may have to be imposed, such as quickly closing schools when there are cases and delaying giving the green light to interstate movement ahead of and beyond Hari Raya, if necessary. Complacency is perilous.

‘A close look at the figures indicates that we are at a dangerous inflection point, where a wrong premature move in favour of lifting restrictions may send the number of new infections skyrocketing again.’

Read here (The Vibes, Mar 23, 2021)

Traveling to China just got easier—if you take a Chinese Covid-19 vaccine (Wall Street Journal, Mar 16, 2021)

‘After a year of barring entry by most foreign citizens, China’s government plans to ease restrictions for those who have been inoculated against Covid-19. The hitch for now: Only vaccines made in China will qualify.

‘Chinese embassies in the U.S., Italy, India, the Philippines and other locations say they will provide “visa facilitation” to foreign applicants who can certify that they have received a Chinese shot. To enter China, most travelers also still need to prove they have tested negative for Covid-19, obtain an antibody test, and quarantine upon arrival, according to statements Tuesday.’

Read here (Wall Street Journal, Mar 16, 2021)

‘A can of worms’: Experts weigh in on the vaccine passport debate

‘From Israel to Iceland, several governments around the world are adopting so-called coronavirus vaccine passports as they bid to safely reopen borders, unfreeze economies from costly lockdowns and restore a semblance of normality to social life. 

‘Supporters of the vaguely-defined certificates argue they have a critical role to play in ending restrictions imposed to curtail the spread of the pandemic, at least in countries with widescale access to vaccines.

‘But sceptics say they present insurmountable scientific, legal, and ethical issues – at least for now – and should not be used either within individual countries or as a tool to unlock international travel. As the debate continues, Al Jazeera asked five United Kingdom-based experts for their opinions.’

Read here (Aljazeera, Mar 14, 2021)

Coronavirus: How can travel be more sustainable post-pandemic?

"The coronavirus pandemic has been a global shock moment that has led to a rethink in the tourism industry, which is so accustomed to success," said Martin Balas of the Center for Sustainable Tourism (ZENAT) at the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development.

‘Issues such as climate protection and overtourism, which were already major challenges for tourism before COVID, have now come into even sharper focus, Balas told DW. The German Travel Association (DRV) also sees the coronavirus pandemic as an opportunity for more sustainability in the industry.

"Sustainable travel is a trend that has been around for years, and the travel industry has already responded to it and will continue to do so in the future," said Ellen Madeker of DRV. Several large travel companies are preparing awareness campaigns designed to increase travelers' awareness of the impacts of travel.’

Read here (DW, Mar 9, 2021)

China to issue ‘health certificates’ for travel; open to vaccinate athletes for Games: Foreign Minister

‘China said on Sunday (March 7) that it would be issuing "health certificates" - an apparent first step to a global health passport - to allow for international travel amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The country is also open to working with the International Olympic Committee to immunise athletes taking part in the sporting event.

‘It would also be setting up regional vaccination sites to inoculate its citizens overseas, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at his annual press conference.’

Read here (Straits Times, Mar 7, 2021)

Immunitee Malaysia's first health passport accepted in Singapore

‘Malaysia’s Immunitee Health Passport has partnered with Temasek-founded Affinidi to become the country’s first health passport to be accepted in Singapore, via Affinidi’s Unifier digital credential platform.

‘The Immunitee Health Passport is a system designed to store personal immunisation records and vaccine data, which helps to facilitate users’ clearance at border health checkpoints, ensure data protection and security through blockchain, and verify the authenticity of Covid-19 tests and vaccines.

‘In a statement today, Immunitee said the Unifier platform provided interoperability, enabling the secure sharing of necessary data with the various national health check systems being put in place globally.’

Read here (The Edge, Feb 10, 2021)

Ground SOPs in science: The Academy of Medicine of Malaysia

‘The Academy of Medicine of Malaysia is troubled by the introduction of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Exemption) Order 2021, which states that Cabinet ministers returning from official overseas visits must only quarantine for 3 days instead of the mandatory 10 days for inbound travellers. The Health Minister clarified that only Cabinet ministers who travel in a ‘bubble itinerary’ will undergo 3-day quarantine. Moreover, this move is intended to open up the economy as the policy will eventually be applicable to foreign dignitaries and business travellers.

‘We, the Academy of Medicine of Malaysia, wholeheartedly oppose the Exemption Order as well as any plans to extend the 3-day quarantine rule to other travellers.

‘We wish to remind the government that all standard operating procedures (SOP) must be grounded in science. The quarantine period for inbound travellers is set at 10 days based on research which shows that the risk of transmission is extremely low (~1%) after 10 days with monitoring and testing in place. The incubation period for Covid-19 is on average 5 to 6 days but can be as long as 14 days. Therefore, three days is insufficient to detect symptoms. There must be an evidence-based, public health explanation for the government’s decision to reduce quarantine days.

‘The effectiveness of so-called ‘travel bubbles’ are also still in question as new variants of Covid-19 with increased transmission capability spread rapidly around the world. There is insufficient data on the mutations to develop robust protocols for safe travel. We understand there is urgency to restart the economy for the benefit of Malaysians and businesses that are struggling, but this can only be done by bringing the pandemic under control first. The government must not open up our borders to ‘bubble’ delegations and risk bringing in new variants that could overwhelm our health system.

‘We call on the government to revoke the Exemption Order and—until there is scientific evidence that suggests differently—enforce a 10-day quarantine for all.’

Read here (AMM press release, Feb 10, 2021)

The ‘vaccine passport’: Answers to your questions

‘In the near future, travel may require digital documentation showing that passengers have been vaccinated or tested for the coronavirus. Answers to your questions:

• What is a vaccine pass or passport?
• Why would I need a vaccine pass or passport?
• Has this been done before?
• Do vaccine passports have to be digital?
• What are the objections to vaccine passports?
• What are the challenges to creating these digital passes?

Read here (New York Times, Feb 4, 2021)

EU looks at vaccine certificates to help summer tourism

‘The European Union is looking at a common vaccine certificate to help get travelers to their vacation destinations and prevent tourism from suffering another disastrous year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

‘European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the certificates for individuals who have been vaccinated could be combined with COVID-19 tests for those awaiting shots to allow as many people as possible to travel during the summer, which is vital for warm weather Mediterranean destinations like Greece, Italy and Spain.’

Read here (AP, Jan 15, 2021)

Travel body rejects compulsory COVID-19 shots as experts say herd immunity not close

‘Some policymakers have proposed immunisation should be compulsory for air travel as the world steps up the battle to curb the spread of Covid-19, and Australia's Qantas Airways has said it plans to introduce such a requirement. But Ms Gloria Guevara, chief executive of the World Travel and Tourism Council, said such moves would be similar to workplace discrimination.

"We should never require the vaccination to get a job or to travel," Ms Guevara, whose organisation represents a sector that has been badly hit by the pandemic and accounts for as much as 10 per cent of global employment, told a panel at Reuters Next.’

Read here (Reuters, Jan 11, 2021)

How the pandemic will change travel in 2021, from vaccinations to global nomadism

‘Travel has been changed by past calamities. Safety measures instituted after the 9/11 attacks are now just part of the travel experience. It’s unclear just which changes to the travel landscape will be in place a year from now – or 10 years on – but some answers are starting to come into focus.

‘On the brink of the new year, we looked at nine of the most pressing queries facing the travel industry and individual travellers...’

Read here (Channel News Asia, Jan 2, 2021)

World's media ask how it went so wrong for 'Plague Island' Britain

‘In the eyes of the world’s media, Britain – a “Plague Island” led by a man who thinks “optimism is a substitute for hard truths and proper management” – is currently getting a good lesson in “what ‘reclaiming sovereignty’ means”...

‘Much of the blame was on Boris Johnson, whose U-turn on Christmas had “once more shown the yawning gulf between the prime minister’s airy promises and the real world,” said Germany’s Die Welt. That vacuum, however, is now “fast being filled with the anger and fear of a nation hit ever since by horror story upon horror story”. The continental blockade could well be “preparing the British for what Brexit might actually mean”, the paper said, “since there is still no agreement on a trade deal, 10 days before the deadline.”

‘The Netherlands’ NRC Handelsblad said that no one in the UK would have a normal Christmas: “not even a tiny bit of one. The ports are closed; London’s stations witnessed a veritable exodus; tens of kilometres of trucks are stranded on the country’s motorways; ministers are publicly saying the virus is out of control.”...

The Sydney Morning Herald: ‘Britain’s response to the pandemic had been “mired in inaction, plagued by failures of the state to mobilise and Johnson’s own destructive habit of promising false dawns simply because he cannot stand to be the bearer of bad news”.’

Read here (The Guardian, Dec 22, 2020)

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce says proof of Covid-19 vaccination will be a condition of international air travel

‘Proof of COVID-19 vaccination will be a non-negotiable condition of international air travel, according to the Qantas CEO Alan Joyce. Anti-vaxxers will be grounded in the brave new world, with Mr Joyce confirming vaccination will be a requirement to fly internationally.

‘Mr Joyce has repeatedly warned that international air travel won’t resume until there’s a vaccine available for staff and travellers, but on Monday night he went a step further, telling A Current Affair host Tracy Grimshaw that as soon as a vaccine becomes available it will be a condition of travel. “For international travellers, we will ask people to have a vaccination before they get on the aircraft,’’ he said.’

Read here (News.com, Nov 23, 2020)

China pushes for QR code based global travel system

‘Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for a "global mechanism" that would use QR codes to open up international travel. "We need to further harmonise policies and standards and establish 'fast tracks' to facilitate the orderly flow of people," he said. The codes will be used to help establish a traveller's health status. But Human Rights advocates warn that the codes could be used for "broader political monitoring and exclusion".’

Read here (BBC, Nov 23, 2020)

Xi says China ready to boost global Covid-19 vaccine cooperation and travel

‘President Xi Jinping said on Saturday (Nov 21) that China is ready to step up global Covid-19 vaccine cooperation, and called for better international coordination on policies to facilitate movement of people.

‘Pharmaceutical companies and research centres around the world are working on potential Covid-19 vaccines, with large global trials of several of the candidates involving tens of thousands of participants underway. China has five home-grown candidates undergoing Phase III trials. With that [global movement] in mind, Mr Xi said China would propose the creation of a mechanism by which travellers' coronavirus test results were recognised internationally through digital health codes.’

Read here (Straits Times, Nov 20, 2020)

Evaluating Covid risk on planes, trains and automobiles

‘Many transit companies have established frequent cleaning routines, but evidence suggests that airborne transmission of the novel coronavirus poses a greater danger than surfaces. The virus is thought to be spread primarily by small droplets, called aerosols, that hang in the air and larger droplets that fall to the ground within six feet or so. Although no mode of public transportation is completely safe, there are some concrete ways to reduce risk, whether on an airplane, train or bus—or even in a shared car.’

Read here (Scientific American, Nov 19, 2020)

Singapore, Hong Kong agree to set up air travel bubble for leisure travel without need for quarantine: Ong Ye Kung

‘Singapore has announced its first two-way air travel bubble with Hong Kong, paving the way for leisure and other forms of travel between both places. This means that people will be able to travel between the two locations without the need to be quarantine, subject to conditions, including testing negative for Covid-19. Details are still being worked out, but people could be travelling between both places in several weeks.’

Read here (Straits Times, Oct 16, 2020)