Originally Posted by
GUWonder
In other words, KEF border control has been relying upon the notion that most US persons visiting Iceland at this time by way of presenting evidence of Covid-19 vaccination in the US are not crooks and that is good enough for Iceland.
One possibility I did moot with another Australian in Hong Kong wanting to go home is imposing a requirement to seek a visa/permit to exempt us from quarantine from our local Australian mission (in our case, Australian Consulate General Hong Kong) - notwithstanding we are Australian citizens and otherwise possess right to return (we can return, just have to serve 21 days at a state-operated quarantine facility).
To get quarantine exemption visa/permit, our consul will verify vaccination documents presented are to the accepted local format and/or verify with the local department of health if necessary. Of course the vaccine then taken has to meet Australian requirements (e.g. TGA approved).
This is like getting our vaccination papers (as opposed to our passports) "visaed" by our own consul. The practical effect will be, restrictions will be placed on travel like Hong Kongers had to endure in the 1980s, before visa exemptions became widely available to them.
Originally Posted by
GUWonder
A concern some may want to consider: some of these "immunity passport" approaches may complicate the situation for people who play tourist to seek out vaccinations in countries that are not their home country.
This may create some unexpected and surprising scenarios for us in Hong Kong
China does not recognise rest of world vaccine, EU/AU/US does not recognise China's
https://edition.cnn.com/travel/artic...hnk/index.html .
Hong Kong currently recognises both.
The more likely scenario is that we serve as vaccination hub for Chinese travellers heading to EU/AU/US. They come here on the strength of their Chinese vaccines, and take Biontech or AZ.
We are much closer to opening up to southbound travellers from China than those from the rest of the world.
The next stage is we then serve as Chinese vaccination hub for northbound travellers (those from rest of world heading into China).
As a resident, I'm not terrifically happy my clinics will be filled with visitors.
But it's a free port.
In anticipation of these scenarios I took my first dose today, while borders are still shut.