Screengrab from DOH Beat COVID-19 Press ConferenceThe absence of a credible system that will verify an inbound traveler's vaccination record is hampering the implementation of a more relaxed quarantine protocol especially for Filipinos returning from abroad, a senior health official said on Saturday. Under the latest IATF resolution, fully-vaccinated Filipino travelers would only need seven days facility isolation instead of the prevailing 10-day mandatory isolation when they return home. The slight relaxation of quarantine rules came following calls for the government to loosen restrictions for vaccinated individuals. According to Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, the IATF resolution is just the first phase of measures that will be followed by vaccinated individuals until a globally recognized international system to verify vaccination details is set up. She said based on their initial reports, access remains one of the main issues why the uptake of vaccination remains low, especially in the A2 (senior citizens) and A3 (persons with comorbidities) categories.

Source: Manila Times June 05, 2021 17:26 UTC