New European Union rules complicating international travel for those without a Covid booster vaccine come into force today.
Tuesday brings the deadline for the expiry of thousands of Digital Covid Certs in Ireland, as a nine-month validity period for certs issued after initial doses of a vaccine comes into force from February 1st.
The validity period means an estimated 44,000 people in Ireland who have received just a primary course of a vaccine – an initial two doses but no booster shot – could soon face issues at the boarding gate.
The new EU rules mean that those planning to travel using the certs within the bloc must have a booster shot, proof of recovery from Covid or currently remain within nine months of their second vaccine dose.
Although the percentage of those who have received a booster is significantly lower among younger age groups in Ireland, with between 40 and 70 per cent of people aged between 18 and 49 boosted, the majority of this cohort will not reach the nine-month cut-off point until the summer.
President of the Irish Travel Agents Association, Paul Hackett, previously said the issue is most pressing for those who received their second vaccine dose before May last year and who now remain without a booster.
Mr Hackett said the industry does not “anticipate any impact on international travel here” after the EU-wide rule changes were “widely flagged”.
People without a booster will still be able to travel if they have proof of recovery from Covid-19 or are willing to take a PCR test within a set window before they travel.
