Plans have been developed by the US government to make COVID-19 booster shot available to Americans starting in September. This move is in response to increasing restrictions by countries like Croatia and Austria on entry. They have set expiry dates for travelers' vaccination certificates based on when they last received them. Is it possible that travelers will have to review their vaccination records before they travel overseas if this trend continues?
In response to concerns about waning immunity, and the Delta-driven surge, Americans who have received the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines will be eligible for a third shot starting September 20. All Americans will be eligible for a booster shot program that will allow them to get a third dose of mRNA vaccine within eight months. On Wednesday, Joe Biden, the US president, stated that the booster shot program is the best way to safeguard ourselves against any new variants.
Croatia has set an expiry date on vaccine passports/certificates for travelers Roman Babakin / Shutterstock
Vaccine deadlines for travelers
Similar roll-outs are being done in Europe. It is especially important for travelers. Croatia was the first EU country to introduce an expiry date for vaccine passports. It will be based on when the holder was last inoculated. To enter Croatia, travelers must present a negative COVID-19 result if they have not received a vaccine in the last 270 days (9 months). Austria also has a maximum validity period of 270 days on its vaccination certificates for travelers.
Travelers will need to ensure they are up-to-date on their vaccinations if this trend continues. Lonely Planet is told by Dr. Bob Bollinger of the John Hopkins University School of Medicine that there are recommendations for regular boosters of many vaccines, especially for international travelers. It would not be difficult to add COVID-19 vaccines, since travelers should already review their vaccinations before they travel overseas.
Austria has established a limit of 270 days for vaccine validity Rastislav Selak SK/ Shutterstock
Seasonal shots
The UK government will soon decide whether to launch a booster program next month. According to The Times', the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has been conducting trials to see if immunity to COVID-19 waned after nine months. If the trial is approved and the campaign goes ahead, The Times reports that booster shots will "be administered next month along with seasonal flu vaccines" if that proves true.
Is it possible to have booster shots administered on a regular basis as new COVID-19 strains are discovered? Dr. Bollinger said that we will have to wait to see. Because there is still uncertainty over the frequency and need for boosters. It is possible that boosters may be required for COVID-19. We don't know yet how often boosters may be required. He also explains that we don't know yet if booster vaccines are needed to protect against new SARS CoV-2 strains.
The World Health Organization (WHO), while wealthy countries are looking to give third shots to their population, fears it will lead to millions of people not receiving a single vaccine.
Dr. Mike Ryan, WHO's emergency programme director, said that while we plan to give extra life jackets for people who have them, other people will drown without one.
