There is no need to remove your suitcase and neck pillow from storage just yet.
In light of the hype and rumors surrounding the so-called “vaccine passport”, the World Health Organization issued a statement warning transport authorities that such permits do not guarantee that travelers are immune to the spread of COVID-19 in any way or otherwise.
Proof of immunization would be a debatable requirement, as there are even more “critical unknowns about the effectiveness of vaccination in reducing transmission,” said the WHO.
“WHO also recommends that vaccinated persons should not be exempt from complying with other travel risk reduction measures,” they wrote in a February 5 statement of proposed digital passports that show that a person has been vaccinated.
They also discouraged the possibility that cautious international travelers could restrict already meager doses of the coronavirus vaccine, putting disadvantaged groups at an ongoing risk of exposure – and extend their isolation period.
“Individuals who do not have access to an authorized COVID-19 vaccine would be unfairly deprived of their freedom of movement if proof of vaccination status becomes a condition for entering or leaving a country,” wrote the WHO. “National authorities must choose public health interventions that least violate individual freedom of movement.”
The US, UK and other European leaders have publicly considered safe travel programs and strategies that would pave the way for a rehabilitation of the travel industry, allowing for greater mobility between countries after a pandemic that has seen more than 2.5 million lives lost globally since last winter. In addition to international travel, the license may allow access to bars and restaurants.
Public health experts outside the ranks of WHO also criticized the proposal.
“I can see that they can be useful in the long run, but I have a lot of concerns about them being considered at this point, when I think the scientific evidence doesn’t support them. And there are many ethical concerns about them that I consider to be legitimate, ”said Dr. Deepti Gurdasani, clinical epidemiologist at Queen Mary University of London, according to a CNBC report on Thursday.
“We know very little about the effectiveness of vaccines in preventing infections or even asymptomatic diseases against different variants that circulate in different countries,” added Dr. Gurdasani.
The statements come at a time when scientists are learning more than ever about the enigmatic disease, including a study released on Wednesday that revealed that coronavirus can survive in tissue, including cotton and polyester blends, for up to three days – removed only with abrasion hot water and detergent.