RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – To monitor the requirement of proof of vaccination against Covid-19 for travelers entering the country, the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA) on Tuesday, December 14, said it uses data from the Traveler’s Health Declaration (DSV), to analyze the flights and travelers of greatest concern, and conducts a screening of passengers at airports.
In practice, not all passengers are required to show proof of vaccination upon reaching Brazil.
“To implement this requirement (proof of vaccination), the Agency uses data from the Traveler’s Health Declaration (DSV), which allows airport teams to conduct a targeted analysis, focused on flights and travelers of greatest concern, according to health criteria filled out in the DSV,” reads an excerpt from the agency’s note.
“In addition to checking these cases, ANVISA also approaches passengers to check for proof of vaccination and other documents required,” the agency adds.
ANVISA emphasizes that the sample method does not exempt passengers from presenting the required documents, such as proof of vaccination, negative Covid-19 test, and the DSV (Traveler’s Health Declaration).
These two scenarios were observed – passengers who reported the presentation of proof of vaccination and others who did not comply with the obligation – over the past two days at the airports of Guarulhos in São Paulo, and also at Galeão in Rio de Janeiro.
On Tuesday, checking of the printed or electronic certificate was performed by ANVISA employees at the arrivals area, before passengers present their passports to the immigration sector. The process is slow, according to passengers, which leads to long lines.
Passengers report that when the lines become too long, the officials allow some travelers to proceed without fully checking their documents. The goal is to speed up the flow. Airports do not allow press access to the boarding and landing areas.
The vaccine passport requirement in Brazil’s airports began following a ruling by Federal Supreme Court (STF) Justice Luis Roberto Barroso last Saturday, December 11.
Since Monday, December 13, the federal government says it is preparing a new ordinance to “adjust the rules” to the Court decision, but it has not yet been published.
The Federal Attorney General’s Office (AGU) appealed Barroso’s decision and requested that it be possible to use proof of recovery from Covid-19, instead of the vaccination certificate, to enter Brazil. Barroso addressed AGU’s requests on Tuesday.
President Jair Bolsonaro is strongly opposed to the vaccine passport requirement.
Experts alert that there is a risk of reinfection, particularly with the spread of the Omicron. ANVISA says it “awaits the issue of an inter-ministerial ordinance with further details on the rules for the entry of travelers into Brazil, in order to make the operational adjustments that may be required.”