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By Abigail Malbon, Condé Nast Traveller
The UK government is now urging everyone eligible to come forward for a third booster jab to help increase their protection against Covid and minimise the spread of infection. While many countries require travellers to be vaccinated before they enter, the booster jab is only necessary for travel in some destinations – but will this change? Here’s everything we know.
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Do I need a booster jab to travel?
Currently, you do not need to show proof of a Covid booster to travel to most destinations. However, this is likely to change in 2022, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson hinting this would be the case during a Downing Street press conference in early January.‘It’s already the case that to travel to some countries you need a booster to be considered fully vaccinated,’ he said, adding: ‘It’s likely that within weeks this will increasingly become the norm.'
The NHS app was updated to include a third booster jab for travel from Friday 19 November 2021 in England and Monday 29 November 2021 in Wales.
Some countries in Europe are set to apply a nine month expiry date to vaccine passports in a bid to unify travel within the EU and Schengen Zone. This could mean that if you received your second dose of the vaccine more than 270 days ago, a booster shot will be required for you to be considered fully vaccinated. Greece has brought the limit down further, to seven months, while Austria now requires all tourists to show proof of a booster jab.
However, the Department of Health and Social Care confirmed it will not be necessary to show evidence of a booster for travel into England at this time, and booster or third doses will not be added to the domestic Covid pass as it is not a current requirement for people to receive these to qualify as fully vaccinated.
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What is the Covid booster jab?
Originally, booster were restricted to the over-40s only and anyone with an underlying health condition, but on Wednesday 15 December 2021 the government confirmed that they are now available to 18 to 39-year-olds as well . JCVI also advised that children aged 12-15 should get their second jab, and that booster jabs be offered to those aged 16 to 18 who have a health condition that puts them at high risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19 or are the main carer for someone at high risk from COVID-19.The vaccine can be administered from three to six months after the second jab was given, and can add significant protection from Covid. According to a UK Health Security Agency report, a Pfizer/BioNTech booster jab given after an initial round of either Oxford/AstraZeneca or Pfizer offers 70-75 per cent protection against symptomatic infection. This is compared with data suggesting that people who have had two doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab 25 or more weeks ago have far lower protection against symptomatic infection with Omicron than with Delta.
Where can I get a booster jab?
You should be contacted by the NHS to book your appointment – which can be scheduled a month in advance. Alternatively, you can contact your GP to request an appointment.See more at: Condé Nast Traveller
