Saudi Arabia requires quarantine for OFWs vaccinated with Sinovac

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino workers vaccinated with CoronaVac, made by China’s Sinovac, are required to undergo swabbing and quarantine upon arrival in Saudi Arabia.

In a radio interview yesterday, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III yesterday said he is set to discuss the issue with the Saudi embassy.

“It was accepted but still needs to go through quarantine and also swab (RT-PCR), unlike Pfizer where you can go straight in,” Bello disclosed in Filipino.

Bello said he will ask the Saudi government not to require overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who have already been vaccinated to undergo swab and quarantine anymore.

The labor chief stressed that regardless of brands, vaccines provide protection to any individual against COVID.

The Philippine government previously suspended the deployment of OFWs to Saudi upon getting reports that the workers will shoulder the costs of the 10-day quarantine.

Upon being assured that the Filipino workers will not pay for the cost of quarantine, the government lifted the suspension.

Bello said some of the OFWs affected by the ban are still unable to leave for Saudi Arabia because they have to undergo re-swabbing.

He said the government is providing accommodation and other necessary assistance to the affected OFWs.