Text has been proposed by the Bureau of the Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations 2005 (WGIHR) that seeks to make WHO prequalified vaccines as a compulsory requirement for the issuance of vaccine or prophylaxis certificates, raising concerns of vaccine supply concentration.
This took place at the recent 7th meeting of the WGIHR held from 5 to 9 February 2024.
Vaccine certificates are used as evidence of vaccination to facilitate international travel. Article 36 of the IHR states that travellers in possession of a vaccine certificate should not be denied entry unless the competent authority has verifiable indications and/or evidence that the vaccination or other prophylaxis was not effective.
However, Article 36 obligates State Parties to issue vaccine certificates as per the conditions mentioned in Annex 6 and Annex 7. Annex 6 sets out the general conditions and model certificates for vaccination/prophylaxis certificates. Annex 7 sets out the conditions and model certificates for vaccination/prophylaxis certificates for specific disease. Currently Annex 7 lists only yellow fever vaccines.
The contentious proposal is to amend Paragraphs 1 and 3 of Annex 6. These paragraphs currently states that only those vaccines or prophylaxis designated or approved by WHO should be used.