Only the vaccinated can enter
Published Aug 10, 2021 12:12 am
DRIVING THOUGHTS
Pinky Concha Colmenares
There is no doubt, the vaccine pass is here.
There seems to be no more need for legislators and concerned groups to discuss the legality or logic of requiring a document showing one has been vaccinated to enter establishments, cross borders, and participate in public events.
The highly transmissible Delta variant has stopped the discussion and pushed leaders to impose the rule to protect the public.
The document is called different names – vaccine pass, proof of vaccination, hospitality green pass – but the intention is clear. Only the vaccinated can enter specific establishments, even be allowed to cross the borders of towns and cities.
In the Philippines, many towns and cities have added proof of full vaccination as a requirement for the entry of returning residents, visitors and even APORs (authorized person outside residence). A few have dropped the negative result from an RT-PCR test if one can show proof of full vaccination.
The President had made statements that were as strong as a vaccine pass — ordering barangay officials to escort back to their houses people who are unvaccinated — but those were quickly explained as only a sign of the President’s exasperation.
But when fake news floated in social media warning that the unvaccinated will not be qualified to get financial help from the government, and will not be allowed to go out of their houses — thousands rushed to vaccination centers last Thursday. Several government authorities quickly denied the news, so I suppose many were relieved that they did not have to get vaccinated.
As we write this, we have heard of reports that there are barangay officials who refuse to give quarantine passes to the unvaccinated.
In Europe, where the document is called the “hospitality green pass,” 13 countries have laid out plans to legally enforce the pass.”This will take the form of either paper documentation or an app that proves visitors to indoor dining and entertainment venues have been fully vaccinated and are allowed to enter, restriction-free,” according to euronews.travel.
In Italy, the proof of vaccination to enter certain establishments was implemented starting August 6. “Italians will be required to show proof of having received at least one dose of the vaccine, having taken a recent negative swab or having recovered from COVID in the past six months in order to sit at indoor tables in bars and restaurants; access museums, swimming pools, gyms and theme parks; and attend sports competitions and other events, including public exams,” according to SchengenVisaInfo.com.
According to the site, from the first week of August, entry to cinemas, theaters, exhibitions, museums, sporting events, private parties, festivals, trade fairs, swimming pools, and gyms will only be allowed upon introduction of the pass.
The same document is required in France starting August 2. President Macron in July had announced the strict measures requiring a health pass from all citizens who wish to enter public facilities and use public transport starting August. Although his announcement was met with protest, it also encouraged the biggest number of citizens — 2.5 million — to book appointments to be vaccinated in one weekend.
On August 8, a vaccine pass was already required in Israel where Prime Minister Naftali Bennett had said that "those who refuse vaccines are endangering their health, those around them and the freedom of every Israeli citizen. They are endangering our freedom to work, the freedom of our children to learn and the freedom to hold celebrations with the family."
Those who refused to get vaccinated will not be able to go to cinemas, theaters, synagogues, amusement parks or any activity with over 100 people, indoors or out, unless they bring negative results from a coronavirus test, at their expense, a report said.
By August 16, New York City will be the first city in the United States to require proof of at least one dose of a COVID vaccine for people to enter indoor dining, gyms and other indoor establishments, a report from The New York Times said.
The discussion if a vaccine pass is legal, discriminatory, or logical with the slow vaccination rollout in many LGUs, is over. A strong political will to protect the people from the Delta variant is needed now.
Pinky Concha Colmenares
There is no doubt, the vaccine pass is here.
There seems to be no more need for legislators and concerned groups to discuss the legality or logic of requiring a document showing one has been vaccinated to enter establishments, cross borders, and participate in public events.
The highly transmissible Delta variant has stopped the discussion and pushed leaders to impose the rule to protect the public.
The document is called different names – vaccine pass, proof of vaccination, hospitality green pass – but the intention is clear. Only the vaccinated can enter specific establishments, even be allowed to cross the borders of towns and cities.
In the Philippines, many towns and cities have added proof of full vaccination as a requirement for the entry of returning residents, visitors and even APORs (authorized person outside residence). A few have dropped the negative result from an RT-PCR test if one can show proof of full vaccination.
The President had made statements that were as strong as a vaccine pass — ordering barangay officials to escort back to their houses people who are unvaccinated — but those were quickly explained as only a sign of the President’s exasperation.
But when fake news floated in social media warning that the unvaccinated will not be qualified to get financial help from the government, and will not be allowed to go out of their houses — thousands rushed to vaccination centers last Thursday. Several government authorities quickly denied the news, so I suppose many were relieved that they did not have to get vaccinated.
As we write this, we have heard of reports that there are barangay officials who refuse to give quarantine passes to the unvaccinated.
In Europe, where the document is called the “hospitality green pass,” 13 countries have laid out plans to legally enforce the pass.”This will take the form of either paper documentation or an app that proves visitors to indoor dining and entertainment venues have been fully vaccinated and are allowed to enter, restriction-free,” according to euronews.travel.
In Italy, the proof of vaccination to enter certain establishments was implemented starting August 6. “Italians will be required to show proof of having received at least one dose of the vaccine, having taken a recent negative swab or having recovered from COVID in the past six months in order to sit at indoor tables in bars and restaurants; access museums, swimming pools, gyms and theme parks; and attend sports competitions and other events, including public exams,” according to SchengenVisaInfo.com.
According to the site, from the first week of August, entry to cinemas, theaters, exhibitions, museums, sporting events, private parties, festivals, trade fairs, swimming pools, and gyms will only be allowed upon introduction of the pass.
The same document is required in France starting August 2. President Macron in July had announced the strict measures requiring a health pass from all citizens who wish to enter public facilities and use public transport starting August. Although his announcement was met with protest, it also encouraged the biggest number of citizens — 2.5 million — to book appointments to be vaccinated in one weekend.
On August 8, a vaccine pass was already required in Israel where Prime Minister Naftali Bennett had said that "those who refuse vaccines are endangering their health, those around them and the freedom of every Israeli citizen. They are endangering our freedom to work, the freedom of our children to learn and the freedom to hold celebrations with the family."
Those who refused to get vaccinated will not be able to go to cinemas, theaters, synagogues, amusement parks or any activity with over 100 people, indoors or out, unless they bring negative results from a coronavirus test, at their expense, a report said.
By August 16, New York City will be the first city in the United States to require proof of at least one dose of a COVID vaccine for people to enter indoor dining, gyms and other indoor establishments, a report from The New York Times said.
The discussion if a vaccine pass is legal, discriminatory, or logical with the slow vaccination rollout in many LGUs, is over. A strong political will to protect the people from the Delta variant is needed now.