IATF issues travel guidelines for fully vaccinated individuals

Fully vaccinated individuals planning to travel within the Philippines are not required to present swab test results.

This is according to the latest guidelines issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).

The IATF-EID Resolution No. 124-5 stated that fully vaccinated individuals only need to present their vaccination card as proof that they are protected against COVID-19.

A fully vaccinated individual is someone who has more than or equal to two weeks after having received the second dose of a two-dose vaccine, or more than or equal to two weeks after having received a single-dose vaccine.

The vaccine received must be included in the country's Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) List, have a Compassionate Special Permit (CSP) from the Philippine Food and Drug Administration, or be on the Emergency Use Listing of the World Health Organization.

Meanwhile, individuals from abroad are required to have official documentation as proof that they are fully vaccinated. It should be validated through the Philippine Overseas and Labor Office or POLO or present their international certificate of vaccination.

Documents need to be presented to the quarantine representative for re-verification at the Department of Tourism One Stop-Shop upon stepping foot in the Philippines.

Fully vaccinated individuals in close contact with suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases are required to undergo a shortened seven-day quarantine period if they remain asymptomatic for the seven-day period.

Testing may be done not earlier than the fifth day after the date of the last exposure.

In cases where an individual tests positive for COVID-19, the isolation protocols must be followed.

Meanwhile, take a look at some of our local celebrities who got their shot against COVID-19: