Austria and Croatia — are saying it must be less than 270 days since a traveller received their second shot to be considered fully vaccinated. More nations are talking about or considering imposing expiration dates on vaccine credentials.
Most recently, the United Kingdom has said eligible people who turn down a booster shot, or third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, may face quarantine and additional testing. The government is “reviewing the implications and requirements of boosters for international travel certification,” according to trusted news sources.
Questions have also been raised about the specifications of COVID-19 vaccine validity now that the U.S. is welcoming fully vaccinated international travellers. But U.S. officials have not yet announced whether an additional booster will factor into vaccine credibility.
Travellers used to have to worry about passport expiration dates or making sure they took their COVID-19 test within a specific time before departure. But now, international travel may get even more confusing.
Expiration dates on vaccines are likely to make it harder to travel at will. Even as destinations reopen to tourism, countries still have tightened restrictions to curb the highly transmissible delta variant.
While countries introducing vaccine expirations for travel is a new development, putting expiration dates on vaccination credentials is not. New York State’s Excelsior Pass vaccine passport, for example, is currently valid for 365 days, but the state also said that this validity was subject to change based on guidance from health experts.
Currently, if you are visiting the United States, you will be considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 if it’s been 14 days since your final dose. Unfortunately, even being vaccinated (and having the proper credentials) might not be enough to travel abroad if it’s been too long since your last dose.
