Many are divided on the presentation of a vaccine card or quarantine certificate instead of a negative swab test result of Filipino vaccines for domestic travel.
According to Dr. Rontgene Solante, an infectious disease expert, this is a way to encourage more people to get vaccinated.
“When you are fully vaccinated, you are more protected compared to those that are not vaccinated. That means you have that freedom already to go out,” said Solante.
But Solante insisted that it still involves meeting the enforced minimum health standards even if they have been vaccinated.
The Department of Tourism had earlier said that it was up to the local government to decide whether it wanted to require vaccine cards or a confirmatory swab test.
This is despite the announcement by the Inter-Agency Task Force that those who have already received a complete dose of vaccine against COVID-19 can present a vaccine card or quarantine certificate instead of a negative confirmatory swab test when traveling within the country.
Health expert supports vaccine card replacing swab test
In an interview with the Bakuna Muna segment on the Kabayan program on TeleRadyo Wednesday morning, Solante said it would be important to know how to validate the vaccination card to ensure it is authentic.
Solante further explained that being fully vaccinated will happen two weeks after the second dose of vaccine against COVID-19.
“Kapag sinabi nating fully vaccinated dapat after the second dose, two weeks after pa kasi hindi pa naman nag-develop ‘yung antibody fully. Usually, after the second-week meron ka nang protection but still, ang panawagan natin, maski bakunado ka pa, you still have to maintain the health protocols,” he said.
Travelers who are fully vaccinated can now enter and visit Baguio City even if they do not show a negative swab test result.
However, travelers must have a valid vaccination card or certificate as proof that they have completed their 1st and 2nd dose vaccine against coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
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