The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) has finalized protocols for fully vaccinated individuals as announced by Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque. According to the IATF Resolution Number 124-B, individuals who have received a single-dose vaccine or the second shot of a two-dose vaccine two weeks prior will be considered as “fully vaccinated.” The vaccines against COVID-19 administered to said individuals must be included in the EUA List or Compassionate Special Permit issued by the Philippine FDA, or Emergency Use Listing of WHO.
The recently released resolution by the IATF waives the negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result of fully vaccinated individuals as a requirement for interzonal travel. Instead, certificates of vaccination or vaccination cards are now an authorized alternative to any testing requirement before travel or upon arrival which the local government of destination may require. Undergoing a health and exposure screening is still a must, however.
Roque also explained that in situations when fully vaccinated individuals have been in close contact with probable and confirmed COVID-19 cases, they may need to undergo a shortened seven-day quarantine period only if they remain asymptomatic for the said duration.
In case there is a need for RT-PCR testing, this may be done not earlier than the 5th day after the date of the last exposure. For close contacts who may have been traced beyond the 7th day from the last exposure and who remained asymptomatic, no testing and quarantine shall be required. However, prescribed testing and isolation protocols shall be followed should the RT-PCR test yield a positive result or the individual becomes symptomatic.
Intrazonal movement of fully vaccinated senior citizens within areas under GCQ and MGCQ is also now allowed provided that they present their COVID-19 domestic vaccination card or certificate of quarantine completion.
Know more information on the protocols for fully vaccinated individuals in the video below:
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