Travel Vaccine Breaking News

The Canadian Committee to Advise on Tropical Medicine and Travel (CATMAT) Interim Canadian Recommendations for using a fractional dose of yellow fever vaccine during a vaccine shortage was updated on March 9, 2021.

The previous fractional dosage recommendation has been rescinded and is no longer valid as the shortage of the Yellow Fever vaccine has been lifted, says the CARMAT.

The CATMAT now 'recommends that anyone who received a fractional dose of Yellow Fever vaccine while the shortage was in effect should now get a regular dose of the vaccine if traveling to an area where yellow fever vaccination is recommended or required.'

This recommendation is important since yellow fever immunization is required to enter certain countries in Africa and South America regardless of the traveler's country of origin. Other countries require the vaccination of travelers if the traveler has passed through endemic areas.

As an example, the U.S. CDC publishes a map of Brazil's yellow fever endemic areas.

Yellow fever is a disease caused by a virus that is spread through mosquito bites. Symptoms take 3–6 days to develop and include fever, chills, headache, backache, and muscle aches. About 15% of people who get yellow fever develop serious illnesses that can lead to bleeding, shock, organ failure, and sometimes death, says the CDC.

Fractional Vaccine Dosage Background: In 2016, there were calls for the use of a fractional dose of yellow fever vaccine to address a global yellow fever vaccine shortage, a measure that would allow for immunization of a greater number of people during the vaccine shortage.

On June 17, 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a statement that the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization found that using a fifth of a standard vaccine dose (0.1ml instead of 0.5ml) would protect against yellow fever for at least 12 months. However, the WHO stated that a fractional dose of the yellow fever vaccine would not qualify for a yellow fever certificate under the International Health Regulations.

Canada's Committee to Advise on Tropical Medicine and Travel provides the Public Health Agency of Canada with ongoing and timely medical, scientific, and public health advice relating to tropical infectious disease and health risks associated with international travel.

The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported a new post-coronavirus pandemic travel record on March 28, 2021, when 1,574,228 air travelers were screen at airports in the USA.

That volume is far greater than in 2020, when only 180,002 people were screened.

However, last Sunday's traffic is only 62% when compared to 2019's travel record.

To meet this expanding consumer demand, the TSA previously announced during February 2021 that it intends to hire about 6,000 additional staff members.

Specifically, the TSA is hiring Transportation Security Officers to work at Denver International Airport. There are 135 full- and 15 part-time positions currently available, with a starting salary of $18.10 per hour.

Additionally, TSA staff will soon assist the U.S. CDC's requirement that air passengers two years of age and over entering the USA (including U.S. citizens and Legal Permanent Residents) to present a negative COVID-19 test, taken within three calendar days of departure​, or proof of recovery from the virus within the last 90 days.

The TSA is a division of the Department of Homeland Security.

Japan's government announced on March 28, 2021, it would issue digital health certificates to citizens who have been inoculated against coronavirus, joining China, the European Union, and other countries that have embraced vaccine passports aimed at opening up overseas travel, Nikkei has reported.

The COVID-19 vaccine certificate can be managed on a mobile app. It will be in line with international standards, allowing the person to present the proof of vaccination when boarding a plane or checking in to a hotel.

Furthermore, the government is considering adding the certificate to an app to be introduced in April 2021 that holds a digital certificate for a negative test result.

'The government is cautious about using vaccine passports for domestic travel,' stated Norihisa Tamura, Japan's health minister. 'The documents can lead to discrimination and prejudice, a view also held by some Japan legislators in the Diet.'

In determining the technical standards for its certification, the Japanese government is referring to the EU certificates and the universal digital certificate "CommonPass" advocated by the World Economic Forum.

'The government does not plan to use the vaccine passports for the "Go To Travel" campaign in Japan to stimulate tourism demand, even if the program is resumed.'

A second Dengue vaccine may soon become available in Europe and elsewhere. Japan-based Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited has applied to the European Medicines Agency to Conduct the First-Ever Parallel Assessment of a Medicinal Product for Takeda’s Dengue Vaccine Candidate known as TAK-003.

Additionally, Takada stated in a press release issued on March 25, 2021, besides the EU, it intends to submit Regulatory Filings in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and the USA during 2021.

If approved, TAK-003 would join Dengvaxia as the only Dengue authorized vaccine.

This news is important since Dengue is the fastest spreading mosquito-borne viral disease. Dengue is mainly spread by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and, to a lesser extent, Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. It is caused by any of four dengue virus serotypes, each of which can cause dengue fever or severe dengue.

The dengue virus can infect people of all ages and cause serious illness among children in some countries in Latin America and Asia, says the U.S. CDC.

On March 2, 2021, the CDC issued a Level 1 Travel Alert for the Americas, warning international travelers of their risks. Dengue is an ongoing risk in many parts of Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean (map).

“Submission of regulatory filings for our dengue vaccine candidate, TAK-003, marks an important development for people who are living in or traveling to communities burdened by the threat of dengue,” commented Derek Wallace, VP, Dengue Global Program Leader at Takeda.

“Dengue outbreaks, which result in half a million hospitalizations globally each year, can overwhelm communities and governments because of the broad impact on the health care system. With limited options to prevent the disease, there is a pressing need for widely available dengue vaccines. Takeda is committed to working with regulatory authorities and recommending bodies to support evaluation of our submissions and achieve access for TAK-003.” 

Caitlin Shockey, a spokesperson for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), told USA TODAY on March 24, 2021, 'that the Conditional Sailing Order remains in effect.'

"Returning to passenger cruising is a phased approach to mitigate the risk of spreading COVID-19," Shockey said. "Details for the next phase of the CSO are currently under interagency review."

On February 2, 2021, the CDC stated it 'recommends that all people avoid travel on cruise ships, including river cruises, worldwide. That’s because the chance of getting COVID-19 on cruise ships is high since the virus appears to spread more easily between people in close quarters aboard ships.'

Furthermore, the CDC recommends that travelers avoid cruise travel worldwide.

If you travel on a cruise ship or river cruise and disembark in a foreign port, you might not be able to receive appropriate medical care or be medically evacuated if you get sick. Some countries might refuse to dock your ship or allow passengers to disembark. If they identify a case of COVID-19 aboard your cruise ship, foreign health officials may implement formal quarantine procedures, says the CDC.

All air passengers coming to the USA, including U.S. citizens, must have a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of recovery before arriving in the USA.

See the Frequently Asked Questions for more information.

 The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation (BMTA) announced 'it is thrilled to welcome back longtime partner Royal Caribbean International, as the cruise line revealed that Nassau would be the homeport for Adventure of the Seas, beginning June 2021.

Adventure of the Seas will be visiting additional islands in The Bahamas, including Grand Bahama Island and Perfect Day at CocoCay, stated the BMTA on March 21, 2021.

“We believe starting with cruises for vaccinated adult guests and crew is the right choice. As we move forward, we expect this requirement and other measures will inevitably evolve,” stated Michael Bayley, president, and CEO, Royal Caribbean International, in a press statement issued on March 19, 2021. 

“The opportunity to homeport in The Bahamas is a testament to the tremendous partners the government and the people of the island nation have been to us for more than 50 years. We are grateful for the confidence that they have in us and our commitment to a healthy and happy return to sailing.” 

Full details related to Royal Caribbean's health and safety measures are available online. Simultaneously, testing and entry requirements for The Bahamas, including Bahamas Health Visa application and more, can be found on Bahamas.com.

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai confirmed to Gulf News on March 21, 2021, that a new Standard Operating Procedure was issued by MCGM, which exempts certain air passengers from seven-days’ institutional quarantine.

As an example, passengers from the UAE to India’s financial capital Mumbai will be exempted from mandatory institutional quarantine if they have completed COVID-19 vaccination and fall under certain other categories of flyers.

A spokesperson of the CSMIA stated the exemption process is independently handled at the airport, and the self-declaration form can be availed at BMC exemption counters at the airport.

As of March 22, 2021, there are eleven different COVID-19 vaccines available globally.