Qantas will require proof of vaccination

[PaddyF0dder]

www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-australia-55048438

Personally I’m delighted. Decisive action like this is required to ensure we emerge from the pandemic.

Vaccination remains voluntary. But like any other choice, it comes with consequences.

Hopefully other airlines will follow.

I welcome this. If I had to choose between an airline that required vaccinations or one that didn't, I'd definitely choose to fly with the one that did. I do think there should be exemptions for those who are unable to have the vaccine, obviously.

As for the anti-vaxers, I don't really give a toss whether they like it or not. It's their choice not to have the vaccine, so they can choose to accept the consequences.

[quote SexTrainGlue]Which countries are we talking about? Are they major tourist destinations?

These are the countries where Yellow Fever is a risk, and travellers really should get the immunisation

www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/advice/disease-prevention-advice/yellow-fever/yellow-fever-risk-areas.aspx

This is the WHO list - necessarily quite long as countries may put different requirements on those travelling from yellow fever countries

www.who.int/ith/ITH_country_list.pdf[/quote]
Some of these countries demand a yellow fever certificate from travellers as a condition of entry to their country. Many of these, and other countries, will ask you for a certificate if you are entering from an infected country.

It doesn't say that there's a blanket requirement for all visitors from all countries to be vaccinated, even if only staying for a few days.

agree with Alexa above.
i don't fly, but if i did, and for other services/ venues/activities i would definitely choose those that made vaccination a condition.
i think that will be the majority view.
so if some do not require it, they are more likely to fail in business, as not enough customers will want to take the risk.
let the anti-vaxxers form their own airlines, cruises, concerts, etc.

I can't imagine people flying to Australia wanting the alternative which is presumably to quarantine in a govt holding centre for a fortnight

This is an excellent idea and I hope more airlines and countries follow suit.

I had to have a yellow fever vaccination to go to Uganda. Was told i wouldn’t be allowed in without the certificate.

People are getting upset because getting a vaccine would be a global, communal effort. And apparently doing something like this would violate your rights (see the anti mask brigade a few months ago).

It's ridiculous and just a 'screw you' to society.

this will age well once the receivers of this miracle cure start getting sick again because the virus has adapted

Qantas is in trouble I think. Qatar massively stepped up during the pandemic and did a truly amazing job. Qantas also took 12 weeks to issue refunds to stranded travellers who needed to book new tickets.

Good. Hopefully all airlines will follow suit.

Just to add I do hope they don't go under as the no stop flight to Perth is bloody brilliant.

I'm in, dose me up, I'm going home! 🥳👋✈

Proof of immunity would make more sense. You don’t need to be vaccinated for that. Recent studies show that immunity from infection lasts at least 6 months.

It isn’t available for everyone and you can’t pay for it privately

This. It makes no sense until everyone has the opportunity to access it.

A fair few scientists seem to be urging caution about how long immunity will last and how repeat vaccinations will work, too.

It feels a bit short-sighted to have announced this now, although I don’t necessarily have a problem with the policy when we’re in the right place for it.

excellent, schools etc should follow suit. Mandatory for all then we might get a life back

@DianaT1969

Although airlines might struggle to validate a vaccination certificate, presumably travel insurance companies will be efficient at that. Surely they won't pay out if you need medical treatment for Covid abroad, if can't prove you had the injection. I can see potential for people being sued for falsely claiming they had the vaccine and then spreading it to others - particularly younger people who weren't eligible for the vaccine.

Good point!

@lockeddownandcrazy you know you can get immunity from having cv too, right? Most people, especially younger people, have it very mildly or asymptomatically. So it would be a bit silly to require a bunch of young people to get a vaccine for something they may already be immune to. Maybe testing for immunity would make more sense instead of vaccinating a really low risk population?

[quote bumbleymummy]@lockeddownandcrazy you know you can get immunity from having cv too, right? Most people, especially younger people, have it very mildly or asymptomatically. So it would be a bit silly to require a bunch of young people to get a vaccine for something they may already be immune to. Maybe testing for immunity would make more sense instead of vaccinating a really low risk population?[/quote]
Also, healthy young people won't be able to get the vaccine for at least a year (probably) so I don't see those tourist destinations which depend on their money refusing them entry because they have not been vaccinated.

As the previous poster has just pointed out. What if you are under the age of 50 and arent eligible for the vaccine?

It seems that the yellow fever vaccination is required if the person is travelling FROM a place where there is high risk of yellow fever.

www.who.int/ith/ITH_country_list.pdf

The website suggests that places like Australia, China, s Korea, Barbados and a number of others have this requirement. So I don’t think it is way out there for vaccination to be required.

I imagine this is a commercial and/or political decision by Qantas rather than a public health one. They generally do things to maximise their/their shareholder’s profit, not for the good of society.

And for the pp who said Qantas will go under because air travel is being discouraged and greener alternatives encouraged these days, you clearly live in Europe not Australia! There is no viable alternative to air travel for us.

@Chill08

As the previous poster has just pointed out. What if you are under the age of 50 and arent eligible for the vaccine?

At some point the under 50s will be eligible. So it'd be a case of waiting until it becomes available to you before you can travel.

Without a doubt other airlines will follow, the articles states:

The Australian flag carrier's boss, Alan Joyce, said..."I think that's going to be a common thing talking to my colleagues in other airlines around the globe."

Since this is a global problem and not localised like Yellow Fever, perhaps they can come up with a system that attaches covid-19 vaccination proof to people's passports? Less chance of people trying to fake it?

The website suggests that places like Australia, China, s Korea, Barbados and a number of others have this requirement. So I don’t think it is way out there for vaccination to be required.

But it's one thing for a country where a disease is non-existent to require vaccination from high-risk countries, quite another forxcountries to demand vaccination from visitors where Covid exists at a roughly similar level.

Is a country like say, Spain, which does not plan to make vaccination mandatory, going to demand vaccination from all visitors, even when a vaccine may not yet be available to most people?

At some point the under 50s will be eligible. So it'd be a case of waiting until it becomes available to you before you can travel.

Many airlines and tourist destinations may not be able to afford to wait though. Especially if such a requirement means families with children - who aren't going to be vaccinated for some time - are banned from travelling.

Also, healthy young people won't be able to get the vaccine for at least a year (probably) so I don't see those tourist destinations which depend on their money refusing them entry because they have not been vaccinated. - @IcedPurple

I highly doubt they'd risk letting people in who could potentially spread covid and cause yet another wave. It would literally undermine all the work that governments have done to try and stop the spread so far. What would be the point of all these lockdowns if countries are going to reopen borders to every unvaccinated Tom, Dick and Harry?