The decision will come into force on February 1, as the EU Commission announced on Tuesday. Theoretically, the EU countries can still use a veto, but this is as good as impossible, since the regulation was coordinated with the states. Austria has already reduced the validity of the certificates in the Green Pass to 270 days.
Covid booster vaccinations are now recommended no later than six months after the full vaccination. The vaccination certificate should be valid for three more months before it expires, so that you have enough time to get a booster vaccination. After a booster vaccination, the validity will be extended indefinitely, as there is not yet sufficient information about the duration of protection by the booster, said an EU official.
Additional requirements are possible
The regulation replaces a non-binding recommendation made by the Brussels authorities in November and only applies to trips within the EU. If the situation worsens, however, the states can impose additional requirements such as a test or quarantine obligation. However, you will be asked to adhere to the agreements, according to which freedom of movement should not be restricted “disproportionately”. The EU member states can also determine the period of validity of the pass for access to events or indoor activities.
The EU vaccination certificate consists of a QR code that is created directly after the vaccination in practices and vaccination centers or is subsequently available in Austria in pharmacies, for example. The code can be displayed in a smartphone app and can be read out digitally. The codes are recognized everywhere in the EU despite different apps in the individual countries and make it easier to provide evidence of vaccinations, fresh tests and recently recovered infections with the coronavirus when traveling.
807 million EU certificates
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had already announced after the EU summit last week that her authority would promptly submit a regulation with a view to the EU vaccination certificate. Before this year’s summer season, the EU countries and the EU Parliament had agreed on the final details of the Europe-wide certificates. They are now recognized in numerous countries outside of the EU.
The EU Commission emphasized that the EU’s digital Covid certificate is a success story. So far, 807 million certificates have been issued in the EU. A total of 60 countries and territories on five continents have joined the system.
The Re-Open EU website provides an up-to-date overview of the corona rules in the individual EU countries: https://reopen.europa.eu/de/
Source: Nachrichten
