IMO APPRECIATES WHO DECISION TO PRIORITIZE VACCINATION PROCESS FOR SEAFARERS

The integration of seafarers as a priority group in the vaccination process against COVID-19 was welcomed by the International Maritime Organization - IMO.

In this regard, the World Health Organization - WHO updated the Vaccine Roadmap (SAGE Guidelines - Stage 2) indicating that vaccination should be prioritized for: "...seafarers and air crews working on ships carrying goods and not passengers, with special attention to seafarers who are stranded at sea and unable to cross international borders for crew change due to travel restrictions".

This Statement was warmly welcomed by the IMO Secretary General, who expressed that this action taken by the WHO is a recognition of the importance of Seafarers in this global health crisis, adding that "...these people are responsible for transporting more than 80% of the world's goods, including food, medicines and vaccines, and have continued to do so despite extremely difficult circumstances. Seafarers will play a key role in global recovery, and barriers to international travel and crew change must be removed..."

The IMO has been actively working to have seafarers designated as "key workers" and last May issued a resolution encouraging the priority vaccination of seafarers in national COVID-19 vaccination programs and calling on IMO Member States to support the fair global distribution of vaccines.

For more information, review the links below:

IMO's work during the COVID-19 Pandemic
https://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/HotTopics/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx

WHO - Joint statement on prioritizing seafarers and aircrews for vaccination against COVID-19
https://www.who.int/news/item/25-03-2021-joint-statement-on-prioritization-of-covid-19-vaccination-for-seafarers-and-aircrew