Confusions are now looming in the industry since the Bureau of Quarantine or BOQ started issuing the International Certificate of Vaccination or ICV for COVID 19.

BOQ, the country’s sole mandated agency to issue ICV, opened its satellite office at SM Mall of Asia last July 15 and started issuing ICV for COVID 19.

In its Memorandum circular No 2021-12 issued on July 8, BOQ says many countries are starting to require international travelers to present proof that they were already fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before entry into their respective country.

The new version of the International Certificate of Vaccination has a secure QR code for verification of its authenticity.

The applicant for the issuance of ICV shall register for an appointment using the BOQ Online Booking System or OBS.

But some manning agencies have already been complaining that their seafarers are having a hard time on securing appointment slots for the issuance of ICV for COVID 19.

A manning agency said, their crew cannot embark without the ICV.

Meanwhile, a seafarer has sent to Marino World screenshots of his yellow card issued by a clinic accredited by their manning agency.

He said they were required to secure and pay P500 each for the vaccination certificate for polio and yellow fever in replacement or in addition to their previous ICVs.

But according to the BOQ Memorandum circular “Those that had been issued with the previous version of the International Certificate of Vaccination or ICV is still considered as valid and re-issuance is not necessary.

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