Want to know the difference between the different Covid travel certificates? In previous posts we have reviewed the requirements needed to travel to countries such as Italy, Portugal, UK, Ireland, Uruguay and many more destinations. In all of them the requirements for Covid-19 are different, however, there are terms that we hear on a daily basis that can still cause confusion.
- What is the Covid passport and is it the same as the EU Covid certificate?
- How long is my vaccination schedule valid?
- Can I be asked for Covid diagnostic tests even if I am vaccinated?
These and other questions will be answered below, and we bring you a list of basic terms you need to know when travelling in times of coronavirus.
The Covid passport
Also known as the EU Covid certificate, was an initiative that, as the name suggests, was implemented among EU member states. The aim was simple, give citizens an easy, quick and convenient way to declare their health status to Covid-19.
As the official website of the Community of Madrid specifies in its news section, “There are three types of certificate: vaccination against COVID-19; the negative result of a diagnostic test carried out prior to travel; and recovery from infection confirmed by a diagnostic test for active infection (PDIA)”.
This protocol was a measure designed especially to give a boost to the tourism industry during summer 2021, however, at that date the vaccination guidelines by country were a little behind schedule for completion, which raised the following question.
When is a vaccination schedule considered complete?
It is important to clarify that this depends on whether the vaccine administered is a single dose or requires two doses, in which case 14 days should be counted after the last dose. There are countries where for single-dose vaccines this time can be increased or decreased as a requirement, with a minimum of 7 days and a maximum of 28 days.
Even so, January 2022 means that a good part of the population is almost 8-9 months after their last dose, and countries such as Italy have declared that the validity of these vaccines in their territory will be 6 months. In other words, if your last dose was 6 months and 14 days ago, and you want to travel to Italy, your Covid passport will not be valid.
Administrative and immunological issues
According to the Spanish Society of Preventive Medicine, Public Health and Health Management (SEMPSPGS) they explain for niusdiario.es in their article Vaccinated and cured of covid: is a booster dose necessary to have a complete regimen? that:
“There are two aspects to this issue: immunological and administrative. In the former, there are more and more authoritative voices that advise against inoculating booster doses sine die, or even those infected in the last few months. The second is more nuanced: depending on the age range or clinical condition, one, two or three doses are considered a complete vaccination schedule”.
In this case, what can I do if my last dose was more than 6 months ago and I have not yet had a booster? Well, if you have been infected with Covid-19 after your vaccination, you can ask your health authorities for a certificate of recovery. This is accepted by some countries as valid proof for travel but does not exempt you in some cases from also needing a diagnostic test, for example if you are travelling to countries such as Venezuela or Ecuador.
Solution for people who got infected
If you have not been infected with Covid-19 and you do not have the option of receiving the third dose or booster, you will have to undergo a coronavirus diagnostic test. Private laboratories are able to provide you with the test with the EU certificate, so that you can present it at the destination and in the cases you need it.
The restrictions you need to be aware of when travelling depend on your destination country, and the conditions that each country decides to impose. It is important that before boarding your flight, you check well in advance everything you need to travel. In medmesafe we have several posts with the restrictions on each destination, you can access our blog at the following link
At medmesafe, we provide all kinds of Covid-19 tests, authorized for international travel and with exclusive discounts for our clients:
- RT-PCR test results from 12 to 24 hours. Price €69. Purchase here
- Rapid antigen test results 1-2 hours. Price €22. Purchase here
- RT-PCR test at home results the same day. Price €149. Purchase here
- Rapid antigen test at home results in 1 hour. Price €69. Purchase here
For more information, you can contact us by phone at +34 911 284 591 or by filling out this form: https://www.medmesafe.com/contact
Diveana Rodriguez
Content Marketing Specialist for websites and social networks +10 years experience in creative writing for different fields AIESEC Alumni Bachelor of Social Communication with specialization in Marketing and Corporate Communications (UCAB)