Vaccine passport is an advance for Brazilians and tourists, says infectologist

David Uip, an infectious disease physician, a member of the Contingency Center for the new coronavirus in São Paulo, told the CNN this Thursday (2) that the vaccine passport is an “important advance” to provide security to Brazilians and foreign tourists.

“I think a passport is important, yes, I think it’s adequate. The vaccine passport is an advance that provides security for those who come [de fora do país] and for us [brasileiros]”, he stated.

According to him, it would not be appropriate for Brazil to become a place of “anti-vaccine tourism”. He stressed that he defends the vaccine passport, not the closing of borders.

“I think it’s important [o passaporte da vacina], as it is required in many countries, both in the United States and in European countries. not suitable [o país] become an anti-vaccination tourism site. We already have enough problems in Brazil”, he said.

TO CNN, the also dean of the ABC Medical Faculty University Center (FMABC) praised the vaccination program against Covid-19 in the country and the Unified Health System (SUS).

“Fortunately, Brazil has an adequate and dynamic vaccine program. Brazil has an extremely competent single health system. Just have the vaccine and we will have immunization. The Brazilian people were very receptive, the people want to get the vaccine. The ingredients are important: SUS and Brazilians committed to vaccination”.

This Thursday (2), the United States announced that it will require a negative test of Covid-19 for entry into the country as a measure to combat the new strain. Until last Monday (29), at least 41 countries implemented flight restrictions due to the Ômicron variant.

Variant Ômicron no Brazil

When asked about the Ômicron variant, which already counts at least five confirmed cases in the country, Uip said that it is still too early to determine whether the new strain is more transmissible than others, such as Delta, for example.

He stressed, however, that it is necessary to obtain three pieces of information to prepare: “we have to know if the virus is more transmissible, more lethal and if the available vaccines are competent to protect against Ômicron”, he said.

The governor of the Federal District, Ibaneis Rocha (MDB), told the CNN this Thursday (2) that there are two positive cases for the Ômicron variant in the state.

With the confirmation, the two positive cases of Ômicron in the DF are added to the three cases of the variant that were confirmed in the state of São Paulo this week.

Last Tuesday (30), Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga said the vaccine passport is one of the criteria used to try to prevent the spread of the Ômicron variant in Brazil, but that its potential is limited.

The Ministry of Health is considering a “package of criteria” to take action against the new variant, Queiroga said. “Above all, to reinforce the issue of testing”, he highlighted. “We are going to check what the WHO has decided to take a decision that will bring even more security to the Brazilian population”, he added.