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WHO says it is against proof of vaccination for travel

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Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/reuters/04/19/coronavirus-brazil-france.jpg"/><figcaption>A passenger waits for check-in in the departures area of the Terminal 2E at Charles-de-Gaulle airport amid the coronavirus disease outbreak, in Roissy, near Paris, France April 2, 2021.<em> Christian Hartmann, Reuters/file</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>The World Health Organization&#x27;s emergency committee said Monday it was against international travelers being required to have proof of vaccination, partly on grounds such a measure would deepen inequities.</p><p>&quot;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,&quot; the committee said in a statement summarizing its April 15 meeting, the results of which were only published on Monday.</p><p>&quot;States Parties are strongly encouraged to acknowledge the potential for requirements of proof of vaccination to deepen inequities and promote differential freedom of movement,&quot; the committee added.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/19/21/philippines-covid19-cases-april192021">COVID-19 deaths in Philippines top 16,000 as total cases breach 945,000</a></li></ul><p>The group&#x27;s recommendation comes as numerous countries are mulling launching vaccine passports for travelers but also for other activities including sports.</p><p>The idea, however, has met with criticism, with many saying it would lead to discrimination between young and old as well as rich and poor. Some have also raised privacy concerns.</p><p>European Union member states have already agreed on vaccine certificates, China has launched a health certificate program for travelers and airline companies are also considering requiring vaccination proof.</p><p>The United States for its part said earlier this month that it would not require vaccination passports but added that the private sector was free to explore the idea.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/20/21/dost-approves-ivermectin-clinical-trial-covid-19">DOST OK with clinical trial to test ivermectin vs COVID-19</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/04/19/21/philhealth-yet-to-reimburse-hospital-claims-says-private-hospitals-group">PhilHealth yet to reimburse hospital claims, says private hospitals group</a></li></ul><p>The WHO&#x27;s emergency committee also discussed other issues during its meeting last week including increasing access to COVID-19 vaccines and reducing national and global inequities as far as access to vaccines.</p><p>The committee also urged the WHO to accelerate research on the origins of the vaccine and called for better regulations on animal markets.</p><p>In addition, it said &quot;the sale or import of wild animals that pose a high risk of transmission of novel pathogens from animals to humans or vice versa&quot; should be discouraged.</p><p>The WHO for now has only approved three vaccines for the coronavirus -- the one manufactured by Pfizer-BioNTech, the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine made in India and South Korea, and the Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine.</p><p>The novel coronavirus, which is thought to have made the species jump from the animal world, has now killed more than three million people worldwide since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/19/21/sputnik-v-pfizer-sinovac-vaccines-expected-to-arrive-this-month-doh">Sputnik V, Pfizer, Sinovac vaccines expected to arrive this month — DOH</a></li></ul><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1664210" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>The recommendation comes as numerous countries are mulling launching vaccine passports for travelers but also for other activities including sports.</p>

The recommendation comes as numerous countries are mulling launching vaccine passports for travelers but also for other activities including sports.