Vaccine passport will be charged by airlines on boarding

Airlines are already requiring travelers to present proof of vaccination against Covid when they board to Brazil.

The collection of the vaccine certificate began last Monday (13), after a preliminary decision by Minister Luís Roberto Barroso, of the STF (Supreme Federal Court).

Only people who prove that they were unable to take the vaccine for medical reasons, who are returning from countries without available doses of the immunizing agent, or for exceptional humanitarian reasons, are exempt from showing the certificate.

On Monday, despite the requirement, passengers disembarking at São Paulo International Airport, in Guarulhos, stated that they had not been charged.

Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency) said that the receipt was verified by sampling. To carry out the analysis, it used data from the DSV (Traveller’s Declaration of Health), focusing on flights and travelers of greatest concern.

Barroso then informed that the control of vaccination could be carried out by the airlines at the time of boarding, with inspection at Brazilian airports taking place through sampling.

The STF minister also ordered the collection of proof of the vaccine from those who arrive in Brazil by land. To put this control into practice, Anvisa must install barriers on bridges on the border with Argentina and Paraguay.

At the borders, only residents of municipalities located in the border region and cargo transport workers need to present a certificate.

On Tuesday (14), in response to a request for clarification made by the Attorney General’s Office (AGU), Barroso said that Brazilian residents, over 12 years old, who left the country would need to show the immunization certificate upon return.

This Wednesday (15), however, the Supreme Court formed a majority to establish that residents could also have the option of doing a five-day quarantine and presenting a negative Covid test.