The World Health Organization believes that implementing general travel bans, such as compulsory vaccination at the border, is “ineffective in suppressing international spread”.
While the new epidemic wave of Covid-19 caused by the Omicron variant leads to unprecedented restrictions in Europe, including vaccinations in Italy or Austria, the Emergency Committee of the International Health Regulations of the World Health Organization has issued certain recommendations, especially with regard to international travel. Created on January 13th, released on Wednesday 19th.
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In particular, it is recommendedLifting or easing the international travel ban, as it does not add any value and continues to contribute to the economic and social pressure of the States Parties“Indeed, the World Health Organization believes that implementing a comprehensive travel ban “Not effective in suppressing international spread” And “May discourage timely and transparent reporting of emerging variables of concern».
The World Health Organization also notes that “ Travel measures such as concealment, screening, isolation/quarantine and vaccination should be based on risk assessments and avoid placing the financial burden on international travelers, in accordance with Article 40 of the International Health Regulations (IHR) ».
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Use tools other than the vaccination card
For example, countries like Australia or New Zealand are now closed to tourists. The United States and Finland are not accessible to unvaccinated tourists. In this regard, the World Health Organization considered, for the second time, that the obligation to provide evidence of vaccination against Covid-19 for international travel was excessive. Committee recommendsFailure to require proof of Covid-19 vaccine for international travel as the only way or condition allowing international travel due to limited global access and unfair distribution of Covid-19 vaccinesand invites countries to considerA risk-based approach to facilitating international travel by lifting or modifying measures, such as testing and/or quarantine requirements, as appropriate, in accordance with WHO guidelines ».
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The committee, headed by French professor Didier Hussein, also amended one of its recommendations related to the vaccination campaign in the world. The experts call on the international community to ensure at least 70% of the population in all countries will be vaccinated by early July 2022 and vaccination against the emerging coronavirus is integrated into routine health servicesIn this sense, WHO recommends that countries that have achieved high vaccination coverage rates in high-risk populations give priority to global participation in vaccines, before vaccinating healthy children and adolescents who are at lower risk of serious outcomes.
