Bakuna bilang air travel requirement, ibinasura ng UN agency

Hindi dapat i-required ang COVID-19 vaccinations para sa international travel, iginiit ng UN civil aviation agency bilang bahagi ng updated pandemic guidelines nito para sa air transportation sector.

Naglabas ang International Civil Aviation Organization Council’s Aviation Recovery Task Force (CART) ng anim na bago at dalawang inamyendahang rekomendasyon sa mga miyembrong estado na layunin, matapos ang isang taon pagkabalahaw, na “restoring public confidence in air travel and getting passengers to fly again.”

“After a 70 percent decrease in air traffic, international air transport can now see the light at the end of the tunnel thanks (in part) to these new recommendations and guidelines,” pahayag ni ICAO Council president Salvatore Sciacchitano.

“The Council,” aniya, “has also taken into account the latest position of the WHO, which specifies that proof of Covid-19 vaccination should not be made a condition for international travel.” Dahil sa virus at mahigpit na travel restrictions na ipinatupad upang mapigil ang pagkalat ng impeksyon, maraming commercial aircrafts ang naparada sa nakalipas na isang taon. Ngunit sa pagsisimula ng vaccination campaigns, nabuhay ang pag-asa sa pagbabalik sa normal.

Ngayong buwan lamang, inilunsad ng China ang isang sistema ng “virus passports” -- o certificates of vaccination – upang sibukan ang pagsisimulang muli ng international travel. Kinilala ito bilang world’s first virus passport – isang bagay na sumasalang na sa diskusyon sa United States at EU – ngunit hindi mandatory.

“At such time as evidence shows that vaccinated persons would not transmit the SARSCoV-2 virus or would present a reduced risk of transmitting the virus, member states may exempt such individuals from testing and/or quarantine measures in accordance with a state’s accepted risk threshold (and) the Covid-19 situation,” pahayag ng ICAO.

Saad pa ng ahensiya, “vaccination should not be a prerequisite for international travel.”

Hinikayat din ng CART na mabakunahan sa lalong madaling panahon ang mga air crews, at pansamantalang pag-alis ng restrictions sa air cargo operations upang makatulong sa transportasyon ng essential goods, supplies at COVID-19 vaccines.