IATF releases protocols for fully vaccinated individuals

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 4) – The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has laid down guidelines for individuals fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made the announcement in a taped briefing on Sunday.

A person is considered fully vaccinated after at least two weeks since receiving the second shot of a two-dose vaccine or the first of a single-dose brand.

The vaccine administered should be included in the emergency use authorization list of the Philippine Food and Drug Administration, or should’ve been given a compassionate special permit by the agency. Alternatively, it should be part of the World Health Organization’s emergency use listing.

Under the guidelines, the IATF will continue to allow the intrazonal movement of fully inoculated senior citizens within areas under general community quarantine or modified GCQ.

This is provided that they present their COVID-19 domestic vaccination card issued by a legitimate vaccination establishment, or a certificate of quarantine completion from the Bureau of Quarantine which shows the holder’s immunization status.

For interzonal travel allowed by the task force, a fully vaccinated individual, regardless of age, may now present his or her vaccination card or certificate of quarantine completion in lieu of complying with a local government unit’s COVID-19 testing requirement.

All travelers, however, would still have to undergo health and exposure screening upon arrival in the LGU of destination. They are also expected to continue adhering to minimum health standards.

If tagged as a close contact of a probable or confirmed COVID-19 case, a fully vaccinated person may still undergo a shortened seven-day facility-based quarantine, the IATF said. However, this is only allowed if he or she remains asymptomatic for seven days after the date of the last exposure.

Should an RT-PCR test be deemed necessary, the task force said it should be conducted not earlier than the fifth day after the date of the last exposure.

Meanwhile, no testing and quarantine shall be required for asymptomatic close contacts who may have been traced beyond the seventh day.

The IATF said prescribed testing and isolation protocols shall be followed once the swab test yields a positive result, or if the individual becomes symptomatic.