BUSINESS NEWS


The WHO warns ‘introducing a requirement of vaccination as a condition for travel has the potential to hinder equitable global access to a limited vaccine supply’


Covid certification faces health and legal barriers


Efficacy and availability of vaccination remain key concerns, reports Ian Taylor


There is increasing momentum behind demands for vaccination certification for travellers, but inter- national agreement is required on the standards and use of certification – and the World Health Organization remains opposed for now. The WHO published a position


paper on ‘Proof of Covid-19 vaccination for international travellers’ on February 5 which made clear: “National authorities should not introduce requirements of proof of Covid-19 vaccination for international travel as a condition for departure or entry, given there are still critical unknowns regarding the efficacy of


28 4 MARCH 2021


vaccination in reducing transmission. “People who are vaccinated should


not be exempt from complying with other travel risk-reduction measures.” It also warned: “Preferential


vaccination of travellers could result in inadequate supplies of vaccines for priority populations.” The WHO noted these


recommendations are “temporary” but in line with the advice of the International Health Regulations (IHR) emergency committee on Covid-19 issued in January, which is due to be reviewed in three months. For now, the WHO said: “A number of scientific unknowns


remain concerning the effectiveness of Covid-19 vaccines.” These include “the efficacy of vaccination in limiting transmission including for variants”, the “duration of protection”, the “timing of booster vaccine doses”, and how long before travel vaccination should be required. Some of these ‘unknowns’ may


be resolved relatively quickly. But the WHO also noted: “There is limited access to Covid-19 vaccines worldwide, particularly in low-income and lower middle-income countries.”


Continued on page 26 travelweekly.co.uk


BUSINESSNEWS


PICTURE: Shutterstock


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28