EU countries agree to admit travelers inoculated with WHO-approved vaccines

The countries of the European Union (EU) agreed to open their borders to travelers from outside the block who have received vaccines against COVID-19 authorized by the World Health Organization (WHO), easing the restrictions imposed on those who received Indian and Chinese vaccines.

The EU has so far authorized vaccines produced by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca (when produced in Europe), Johnson & Johnson (J&J), and Novavax.

In addition to these vaccines, the WHO has also approved those produced by the Chinese manufacturers Sinopharm and Sinovac and by the Indian company Bharat Biotech. It has also licensed AstraZeneca’s vaccine made in India by the Serum Institute.

Until now, most EU countries did not admit people from outside the bloc traveling for non-essential reasons if they had been vaccinated with vaccines not approved in the EU.

“Member states must lift the temporary restriction on non-essential travel to the EU for people vaccinated with an EU or WHO-approved vaccine”, says a recommendation adopted on Tuesday by the EU governments that will be applicable from March 1.

Restrictions will be lifted for travelers who have received the last dose of the primary vaccination cycle at least 14 days and no more than 270 days before arrival. Travelers who have received a booster dose will also be accepted.

EU states have also agreed to lift a temporary restriction on non-essential travel for people who have recovered from COVID-19 in the 180 days before they travel to the EU.

For people inoculated with a WHO-approved vaccine, EU states may also require a negative PCR test performed at least 72 hours before departure and may apply additional measures such as quarantine or isolation.