Shipping companies begin to submit their lists of seafarers to be inoculated with COVID-19 vaccine by June as they belong to the A4 priority group.
According to Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad, seafarers must first complete their vaccination before sailing out.
Of more than 700,000 seafarers that will be administered with vaccines, the priority will be given to those onboarding in the next 30 to 90 days.
“It’s useless if you get the first vaccine if you do not get the second injection. So hindi mo papaalisin iyon pero at least, sa ngayon, hindi pa ni-re-require ng mga principals ‘yung inoculated na ang seafarers natin,” Empedrad said at the virtual briefing “Tapatan sa Aristocrat”.
Meanwhile, amid the travel ban in the United Arab Emirates and Oman, MARINA reassured that repatriation of seafarers will continue.
“Actually, nakausap ko na si Lt. Gen. Del Rosario… Importante din kasi na they understand na ‘yung mga seafarers natin ay matagal nang hindi nakakauwi sa kanilang pamilya. They have to go home,” said Empedrad.
As of press time, no countries have yet to require seafarers to get vaccinated upon entry to their borders. – Report from Karen Villanda / CF-rir
