Traveling abroad is becoming less and less complicated for vaccinated travelers.
A growing list of countries reduces or eliminates quarantine and testing requirements for Covid-19 for those who have been fully vaccinated, while maintaining restrictions for those who have not.
Where vaccines facilitate travel restrictions
Barbados announced this week that quarantine requirements for vaccinated travelers will be reduced from zero to two days, during which they can move around their hotels. However, unvaccinated visitors should stay in the hotel rooms until they pass the Covid test on the fifth day and wait a few more days for results.
The new protocols begin on May 8th.
Children still cannot be vaccinated, which complicates family travel plans this year, but Barbados does not leave them out. Children under the age of 18 traveling with vaccinated parents are subject to the same rules as vaccinated travelers, according to the Barbados Tourism Marketing website.
Mixed groups of vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers are not so lucky. Vaccinated adults traveling with unaccompanied adult companions who “decide not to separate” are subject to the heavier requirements imposed on unvaccinated individuals.
Barbados ’relaxed policy toward vaccinated travelers begins on May 8th.
Atlantide Phototravel | Corbis Documentary Getty Images
With its new bifurcated restrictions, Barbados joins Estonia, Guatemala and Slovenia to create different access requirements for vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers. Most require vaccinations to be completed within two weeks of arrival and some accept only vaccines made in the United States or Europe.
The following explains how several countries approach the division:
· Croatia: Vaccinated travelers only need to show vaccine certificates to enter, but unvaccinated travelers must test negative for Covid-19 (or demonstrate recovery tests) and possibly self-isolate while awaiting test results.
· Iceland: It allows vaccinated (and previously infected) travelers, regardless of origin, to enter if they are negative on arrival. Many unvaccinated European travelers, in addition to residents of Australia, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand, can enter by taking negative tests twice and quarantining them for five or six days. Other unvaccinated travelers, including Americans and Canadians, are prohibited from entering.
· Belize: Vaccinated travelers do not need tests to enter, but unvaccinated travelers (including children 5 years of age or older) must test negative before or after landing. Those who test positive must be quarantined for at least 14 days at the traveler’s expense.
· Georgia: Vaccinated travelers from all countries can enter by air, while unvaccinated travelers must come from certain countries and test negative before and after arrival.
Will there be more sites that use vaccine-based policies?
Yes, he said Gloria Guevara, President of the World Travel & Tourism Council based in London.
“As the vaccine launch continues to increase, more and more countries will follow suit,” he said.
The U.S. state of Hawaii is currently working to let vaccinated visitors avoid testing and quarantine requirements, according to local media. Lieutenant Governor Josh Green indicated that children will still have to take negative tests to enter, but children of vaccinated parents may be exempt from testing if Hawaii achieves herd immunity, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.
In my opinion, complaints about equity are ridiculous.
Harry Nelson
Founder of Nelson Hardiman
Phuket, Thailand and Greece have indicated that there are protocols based on less restrictive vaccines.
These policies make “perfect sense,” said Harry Nelson, the founder of St. Nelson’s health law firm Nelson Hardiman.
“My prediction is that this will finally be the rule in the vast majority of countries and that, at some point in the future … we will see some countries move to a vaccination requirement,” he said.
Are these policies fair?
No, Nelson said, “but complaints about equity are, in my opinion, ridiculous.”
He quoted long-standing precedents for countries imposing vaccination tests for visitor entry, especially with low-grade fever. He said the continuing threat of Covid-19 variants makes it “completely reasonable for countries to impose vaccination requirements.”
“The fair is a concept that is irrelevant when it comes to controlling a highly infectious virus that is transmitted around the world,” he said.
Regarding Hawaii’s vaccine-based plans, Lieutenant Governor Green told Honolulu KHON local television that “we don’t discriminate against anyone. If they are against getting vaccinated and want to travel, they can only get [a] try, it’s not a big deal. ”
“All countries have the right to set their public health policy as they see fit,” said health lawyer Harry Nelson.
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Guevara said that while the World Travel and Tourism Council is against requiring travel vaccines, the organization supports the introduction of a short-term health pass, such as the Commission’s “digital green certificate.” European Union to allow even more safe international travel.
“We should not discriminate against those who wish to travel, but have not been vaccinated,” he said. “We know it will take a significant amount of time to vaccinate the world’s population, particularly those in less advanced countries or in different age groups.”
Travel security firm International SOS is collaborating with the International Chamber of Commerce to set standards for digital AOKpass, said Dr. Robert Quigley, world medical director of International SOS.
He said digital vaccine passport applications “are not being developed to be discriminatory, but rather to help the travel industry get back on track and to ensure the health and safety of citizens and travelers.”
Nelson said “politics” related to arguments of fairness and opposition to vaccine passports is an obstacle.
“We need to recognize the practical reality we are living in these times and face it,” he said.