Brasília – The Brazilian Ministry of Health changed the requirements for children to enter the country by air. The change is set out in the rectification of the Informative Note # 2/2022 published last Friday (18). The Extraordinary Secretariat to Combat COVID-19 reported the requirement of a vaccination is now from the age of 12 years and longer from 5 years.
The requirement of a vaccination certificate for children under 12 was in place since February 11. According to it, only children under 5, that were in the country for over 30 days and coming from countries with a low vaccine coverage were exempted from presenting proof of vaccination. The list considers low vaccine coverage below 10% of the population.
When changing the rule, the agency argued that, although at least 39 countries in Europe and 14 in Latin America have authorized or started COVID-19 vaccination in children under 12, there is inequality in access to vaccines. “The decision to vaccinate children should take into account the context and epidemiologic situation of the country regarding other countries, too: the burden of the disease, availability of immunizers, and local strategies, in order to prioritize higher risk subgroups.”
For entry by land borders, the age of 5 years for the presentation of vaccination remains the same.
Resident and non-resident Brazilians and foreigners between the ages of 5 and 18 years entering by land borders that don’t present proof of vaccination due to unavailability of dose for them in their country of origin are exempted, for now, from presenting the vaccination certificate.
When entering Brazil, visitors must fill in the Traveler Health Declaration (DVS), a form required by health regulator Anvisa. Those who do not accredit complete anti-Covid vaccination, whether adults or minors, must quarantine for 14 days. This period can be interrupted on the fifth day with a negative PCR test.
A negative result of virus detection test performed within 72 hours before entering Brazilian territory must be presented, too.
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
