NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 21- News that Kenya had been removed from the United Kingdom COVID-19 red list was good music to many and more so those in the tourism and hospitality sector.
But there have been growing concerns over whether the vaccines administered in Kenya are recognised in the UK. Both countries have now moved in to clear the air.
In a joint statement issued by Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe and United Kingdom High Commissioner Jane Marriott Tuesday, Kenya and the UK said that they recognize vaccines administered in Kenya and the United Kingdom.
They include Oxford-AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson and Johnson.
“It is false to state that vaccines administered in either country are ‘unapproved’,” reads the statement.
But that is not all; the two countries are yet to come up with a system to recognize each other’s vaccine certificates, “for a vaccine passport programme for travel takes time, particularly in an unprecedented pandemic.”
Why is a vaccine certificate important for travellers intending to move to the UK?
The UK will be launching a new system of admission next month which will vet passengers based on their travel history and vaccination status.
This will demand more than merely testing positive or negative for the virus.
Unlike when Kenya was on the UK red list, people from Kenya will be required to isolate at their place of residence and take Covid-19 tests.
Before, one would be required to quarantine at designated hotels- which was an expensive affair.
“We are committed to working with Kenya and other countries on the UK amber list on vaccine certification, and look forward to the expansion of the policy to countries across the globe,” the UK Embassy had earlier said.
“This is simply the next stage in a phased approach to expanding the policy, where safe to do so. We are working with Kenya to ensure this process is completed as quickly as possible.
-What does it mean to be off the UK red list for Kenya?-
Testing requirements will be reduced for eligible fully vaccinated travellers, who will no longer need to take a PDT when travelling to England from Monday 4 October at 4 am.
From the end of October, eligible fully vaccinated passengers and those with an approved vaccine from a select group of non-red countries will be able to replace their day 2 test with a cheaper lateral flow test, reducing the cost of tests on arrival into England.
The UK government wants to introduce this by the end of October, “aiming to have it in place for when people return from half-term breaks.”
Anyone testing positive will need to isolate and take a confirmatory PCR test, at no additional cost to the traveller, which would be genomically sequenced to help identify new variants.
Testing for unvaccinated passengers from non-red countries will include pre-departure tests, day 2 and day 8 PCR tests. Test to release remains an option to reduce the self-isolation period.
“Passengers who aren’t recognised as being fully vaccinated with authorised vaccines and certificates under England’s international travel rules, will still have to take a pre-departure test, a day 2 and day 8 PCR test and self-isolate for 10 days upon their return from a non-red list country under the new two-tiered travel programme. Test to Release will remain an option for unvaccinated passengers who wish to shorten their isolation period,” the UK said in a statement.
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