EU shortly to refuse to accept vaccination certificates after 9-months

Westin

Hopefully everyone that qualifies is taking the opportunity now to receive a covid booster jab. This news from the EU might spur some along more.

The EU has announced that, from 1st February 2022, a coronavirus vaccination certificate will not be valid if it is more than nine months (270 days) since the second dose and no booster has been received. For many being "double-dosed" will not be enough.

The NHS vaccination certificate in the NHS app will not register as valid in the EU if you are travelling after 1st February, had your second vaccination more than nine months ago and have not received a booster shot.

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_6837

R3dders

I have a booking for an apartment in Lanzarote in January 2022.  

When I booked it, I received the following from the owners.  

"VACCINATION CERTIFICATE: Official document stating that you have been fully vaccinated within the 8 months prior to your trip or have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine authorised by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or by the WHO within the past four months and no less than 15 days prior to your trip". 

It seems some companies are imposing their own stricter rules.

Fortunately, I've just had my booster.

Troytempest

This can only be a good thing. Less chance of being infected at airports and on the plane if everyone else boosted!

silvercar

Anyone unboostered with covid at the moment will struggle to get their boosters in time.

soolin

silvercar said:

Anyone unboostered with covid at the moment will struggle to get their boosters in time.

The issue will be for those who had an early booster. I had mine due to underlying health issues at beginning of November and have a holiday booked in September 2022 so if rules is still in place I need to hope for an extra booster next summer. 

eskbanker

soolin said:

silvercar said:

Anyone unboostered with covid at the moment will struggle to get their boosters in time.

The issue will be for those who had an early booster. I had mine due to underlying health issues at beginning of November and have a holiday booked in September 2022 so if rules is still in place I need to hope for an extra booster next summer. 

No, the new nine months rule only applies to those who've had the two main doses but not a booster - there hasn't yet been a decision about elapsed time after a booster:

Vaccination certificates will be accepted by Member States for a period of nine months since the administration of the last dose of the primary vaccination. For a single-dose vaccine, this means 270 days from the first and only shot. For a two-dose vaccine it means 270 days from the second shot, or, in line with the vaccination strategy of the Member State of vaccination, the first and only shot after having recovered from the virus. Under these new EU rules for intra-EU travel, Member States must accept any vaccination certificate that has been issued less than nine months since the administration of the last dose of the primary vaccination. Member States are not able to provide for a shorter nor for a longer acceptance period.

Member States should immediately take all necessary steps to ensure access to vaccination for those population groups whose previously issued vaccination certificates approach the limit of the standard acceptance period. As of yet, no standard acceptance period will apply to certificates issued following the administration of booster doses, given that sufficient data regarding the period of protection is not yet available.

soolin

That's good to know thank you, it's difficult keeping up with changes- one eye on the rules and one on possible 2022 holidays is a minefield!

CKhalvashi

soolin said:

silvercar said:

Anyone unboostered with covid at the moment will struggle to get their boosters in time.

The issue will be for those who had an early booster. I had mine due to underlying health issues at beginning of November and have a holiday booked in September 2022 so if rules is still in place I need to hope for an extra booster next summer. 

I don't believe this is the case, I believe the booster is time unlimited at the moment, but may change next year (I believe the EU-wide advice on restrictions currently ends in June, but it is just advice, several countries have chosen to ignore parts of it).