Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton has indicated that, though it is too early say whether travellers will be required to present vaccine passports to prove they have received the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, the move would not be a far cry from systems already in place.

Tufton, noting ongoing global discussions around the possible introduction of vaccine passports, said on Monday (April 26) that the framework for international travel already includes a public health component that looks at infectious diseases and, “where vaccines are an important response to that, persons have to show evidence that they have taken the vaccines”.

““So technically speaking, a system is in place, and I believe in this instance this may come in for COVID-19 also,” the minister said as he responded to journalists at the Norman Manley International Airport where he was on hand for the arrival of the second batch of AstraZeneca vaccine doses provided through the COVAX Facility.

“I think it’s still early because the conversation is taking place, but if you are coming from a country with yellow fever to Jamaica, for example, you have to have a yellow fever card and, essentially, that is a passport to entry, so it’s not an unusual concept. In fact, it’s a very important concept.”

With yesterday’s arrival of 55,000 vaccine doses, thousands of Jamaicans are set received their second AstraZeneca jabs, starting in May.