EU proposes a 9-month expiration date on vaccine pass
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Displayed on a mobile device is a QR code with EU COVID digital certificates.
NurPhoto | NurPhoto | Getty Images
European Union will consider extending Covid-19 vaccination certificates for tourists to expire after nine months. This allows them certain travel freedoms while they are still valid. coronavirus pandemic still rages.
On Thursday, the European Commission, which is the executive branch of the EU proposed updating the EU Digital Covid Certificate. The document allows people to travel easier during the pandemic. It details their current vaccination status and whether or not they’ve tested positive.
The idea now is that the document has a life span of nine months after the first set of vaccines are administered — so after the second dose for Pfizer–BioNTechShot, for instance, after one dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. It is believed that vaccination passports will become less effective as immunity declines.
Thursday’s recommendation did not address booster shots. According to the commission, “it is reasonable to expect that booster vaccines will provide protection that lasts longer than primary series vaccinations.”
A new expiration date, which will include booster shots, could be issued in the coming weeks. On Wednesday, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control proposed that vaccine boosters should be available to all adults, but priority would go to people over 40.
Pandemics continue to be a problem
Didier Reynders, European Commissioner for Europe said that “it is obvious that the pandemic has not yet ended.” He stated that “the travel regulations must take into consideration this volatile situation.”
Many European countries are experiencing high numbers of Covid infection, especially in those with low vaccination rates.
The EU’s inoculation rate is at 67% — this masks differences between nations, like Portugal, where 88% of the population is fully vaccinated and others, where people are more reluctant in getting a coronavirus shot.
The announcement of Thursday comes after the World Health Organization had warned that Covid could cause more deaths than 2 million in the region by March. WHO described recent increases in Covid cases as “very grave.”
In recent weeks, several European countries have taken steps to combat rising infection rates. Austria, the Czech Republic and other countries have adopted some of the toughest measures.
The proposal for Thursday must be ratified in its entirety by each of the 27 EU member countries before it can be accepted.
Children under six years old should not be subject to travel restrictions. Children aged 6-12 should not be allowed to travel unless they’re from an extremely high-risk country.
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