Health authorities in Vietnam on Wednesday decided to quarantine an American doctor of Vietnamese origin even though he was carrying a COVID-19 vaccination certificate, informally known as a 'vaccine passport,' upon entry.

On a business trip, Calvin Q. Trinh departed the U.S. and landed at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday. 

Trinh, who is a Vietnamese-American doctor in the U.S., presented a vaccination report card issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which provided details on the double inoculation against COVID-19 that he had received before entering Vietnam.

As Vietnam has not yet prescribed any official guideline on the handling of entrants with vaccination certificates, Trinh was sent to mandatory quarantine at a hotel in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, as per coronavirus prevention protocols.

The Vietnamese government requires international arrivals to be quarantined for 14 days upon entry, according to local regulations.

“I didn't feel any pain after the first jab, but shivers and a light fever did emerge within the first day, with dull pain around the injection area and in the arm to ensue,” Trinh recalled, referring to when he was vaccinated against COVID-19 in the U.S.

“The second shot also felt the same to me.

"However, some people have experienced stronger allergic reactions from the second vaccination compared to the first.

“Side effects include shivers, pain, and light fever, which can be treated using Tylenol or Paracetamol."

Trinh completed his study in postpartum rehabilitation and sports medicine in the United States.

The U.S. government is eyeing the issuance of a digital vaccination passport, he said.

In the meantime, U.S. citizens can use vaccination records issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to enter certain countries without having to be quarantined upon arrival.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!