DUBLIN: The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) and the Government have taken two positions on international travel in Ireland. The NPHET advised unvaccinated people not to travel abroad, while the Government said their travel policy differs and that those who are not vaccinated can travel as well. However, the World Health Organization has clarified its position on this matter.
Dr. David Nabarro, WHO’s special envoy on COVID-19, said it would be more appropriate to consider the advice of the Chief Medical Officer (NPHET) when making decisions regarding overseas travel in the context of pandemic.
“For now I would follow the solid advice of Dr. Holohan [CMO] and be quite careful about travel. Tony Holohan is such a cool guy, I like the way he and his team are working,” Dr. Nabarro said.
Ireland is set to introduce the EU Digital COVID certificates from July 19, allowing people to travel freely across Europe. But CMO Dr. Holohan earlier recommended people who have not been fully vaccinated, as well as families with children (since children have not received vaccine), to avoid traveling abroad.
However, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has stated that the Government’s travel policy differs from the CMO’s advice and that non-essential international travel will resume from July 19. Mr. Varadkar said the Government should also consider the youth of the country in making such decisions and that they have not been vaccinated. At the same time, he said that the CMO’s advice was totally right when viewed in the perspective of scientific and healthcare.
In the current situation, Dr. Nabarro says it is better for different countries to reach a joint decision. The sooner countries reach an agreement, the easier it will be for people to make travel plans, he said.
The introduction of the COVID certificate, according to Nabarro, will change the situation for international travel, but he warns that there will never be a situation where it could be said that travel was without risk of coronavirus or other diseases.
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