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AUSTRALIA is setting the framework for how international travel will look like in the coming months as it prepares to take the next steps to safely reopen its borders to the world, the Australian Prime Minister has informed.
“Our government is setting out the framework for how international travel will look in coming months. The government is finalizing new arrangements to enable fully vaccinated Australians to travel,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in a press statement received here on Friday (10/1).
He explained that there will be a seven-day home quarantine for Australian citizens and permanent residents who have been fully vaccinated with a vaccine approved for use in Australia or recognized by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
“There will be a 14-day managed quarantine for anyone not vaccinated or vaccinated with a vaccine not approved or recognized by the TGA. Australian citizens and permanent residents who cannot be vaccinated – for example, if they are under 12 or have a medical condition – will be treated as vaccinated for the purposes of their travel,” he remarked.
Morrison added that states and territories will begin this program at different times given their varying vaccination rates but we expect the system to commence in November. In the coming weeks, the Australian government will finalize the processes for people to be able to show their vaccination status if they have had a TGA-recognized vaccine.
“In addition to the four COVID-19 vaccines it has approved and registered for use—Pfizer (Comirnaty), AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria), Moderna (Spikevax) and Johnson & Johnson (Janssen)—the TGA has also been reviewing other vaccines used widely around the world for the purposes of determining recognized vaccines,” he informed.
The TGA has provided advice that Coronavac (Sinovac) and Covishield (AstraZeneca/Serum Institute of India) vaccines be considered recognized vaccines for incoming international travelers so they can be regarded as appropriately vaccinated.
“Recognition of these vaccines supports Australians to be able to return who have had these vaccinations overseas, and will enable reopening to other groups such as international students who have been vaccinated with these vaccines in countries such as Indonesia, India, and China,” Morrison noted. [antaranews/photo special]
