Booster Shots Added to UK’s NHS COVID Passports For Traveling Abroad

Booster Shots Added to UK’s NHS COVID Passports For Traveling Abroad

Travelers who have got booster shots can now prove their vaccine status through the NHS COVID Passport.

The Health and Social Care Secretary said Friday that “this update to the NHS COVID Pass will mean people can have their complete medical picture at their fingertips if they are going on holiday or seeing loved ones overseas.”

“We want to make it as easy as possible for people to show their vaccine status if they are traveling abroad,” he said.

Wales’ citizens will have to wait until Nov. 29 for their booster shots to appear on their NHS COVID Passes.

In a press conference on Monday, the Prime Minister spoke about what could be the future of travel in and out of Europe in 2022. 

“Getting fully vaccinated with a booster is going to be something that will, on the whole, make your life easier in all kinds of ways including foreign travel.”

The truth is that if current trends continue booster shots will no longer be optional but required for international travel.

For instance, Croatia, Switzerland Austria, and Israel have already set an “expiration date” for vaccines and vaccine passports. 

Travelers to these countries are now considered “unvaccinated” 365, 360, and 180 days after their second shot respectively.

In Israel, visitors will no longer be able to get the “green pass” required to enter all indoor venues if they can’t produce a booster shot certificate.

Those who have booked winter trips to these countries without receiving a booster shot should check the vaccine’s validity against their travel dates.

Since the approval of the third vaccine, more than 13 million citizens have rolled up their sleeves to get extra protection for the upcoming holidays.

The first UK real-world study by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) showed the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine booster significantly improved protection against symptomatic COVID, reaching nearly 95%.

Booking, canceling, rebooking flights and losing money in the process may look rather unfair for those who are not eligible for a booster shot yet.

Luckily, the UK government agreed to expand the booster vaccination drive to people aged 40 to 49, so millions more will have full access to travel.