The United Arab Emirates has announced a ban on citizens who have not had three doses of a Covid vaccine from travelling abroad. In a notable tightening of the country’s vaccine passport travel regime, medical exemptions will apply but there is no option of a negative test. The BBC has the story.
Officials said the exit ban, which comes into force on January 10th, would not apply to those who are medically exempt from receiving the vaccine.
It is the latest country to announce new curbs amid a rise in infections.
Many countries impose strict restrictions on unvaccinated people before they are allowed in.
This varies from a requirement for a negative Covid test before travel to mandatory quarantine upon arrival.
More than 90% of the population in the UAE has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. About 34% had received the booster jab as of December 24th, according to Our World in Data.
The Government says the aim is to prioritise “health and safety” but it’s not clear how requiring triple vaccination to leave the country will protect the country from importing infections. It suggests the aim may be more to incentivise third dose take-up than actual infection control.
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