More than 20 countries have lifted restrictions, in full or in part, for vaccinated travellers, a growing trend that the International Air Transport Association says it unequivocally supports.
Applauding Germany as the latest nation to join the ranks of countries to remove quarantine measures (except from certain high-risk countries) for vaccinated travellers, IATA says it fully supports unrestricted access to travel for vax pax and, in cases where vaccination is not possible, access to quarantine-free travel through COVID-19 testing strategies based on widely available, free-of-charge tests.
Citing the German government’s decision, following a review of scientific advice from the renowned Robert Koch Institute (RKI), which concluded that vaccinated travellers are no longer significant in the spread of the disease and do not pose a major risk to the German population, IATA points out that similar determinations are being reached on the other side of the Atlantic where the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has noted that “with a 90% effective vaccine, pre-travel testing, post-travel testing, and seven-day self-quarantine provide minimal additional benefit.”
The policies also echo those of both the European Commission and the European Parliament, based on similar scientific advice from the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC), which said, “based on the limited evidence available, the likelihood of an infected vaccinated person transmitting the disease is currently assessed to be very low to low.”
“A safe opening of borders to international travel is the goal,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. “And scientific evidence and data such as that presented by RKI, ECDC and USC CDC should be the basis for the decision-making needed to achieve that.
“There is increasing scientific evidence that vaccination is not only protecting people but also dramatically reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission. This is bringing us closer to a world where vaccination and testing enables the freedom to travel without quarantine. Germany and at least 20 other countries have already taken an important step forward in re-opening their borders to vaccinated travellers. These are the best practice examples for others to quickly follow.”
IATA notes that its recent polling shows strong support for a digital solution with 89% of respondents supporting globally standardized COVID-19 test or vaccination certifications and a further 84% want an app to manage their travel health credentials.
“A gap is opening up between countries responding to scientific evidence, and those exhibiting a lack of preparation or excessive caution in reopening borders,” warns Walsh, adding, “Countries that seize the opportunity offered by the increasing numbers of vaccinated travellers can protect their populations and reap an economic reward.”