Will You Need a Booster Shot to Travel Internationally?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently declined to recommend COVID-19 booster shots for everyone who has been fully vaccinated. Instead, they issued an emergency use authorization for the booster shots for select high-risk groups. 

However, if you want to travel to certain countries, you might need that booster shot anyway. Austria and Croatia both recently put an expiration date on COVID-19 vaccinations. Both European countries will now only accept proof of vaccination that is no older than 270 days after the second dose. Under this new rule, fully vaccinated travelers who have been vaccinated for more than nine months would be treated as unvaccinated and subject to stricter entry rules (including quarantine) if they want to visit.

Additionally, Israel recently announced that its vaccine pass, which is required to enter venues such as bars and restaurants, will expire six months after the second dose is given. Israel has already made booster shots available to all vaccinated individuals five months after their second dose. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is expected to meet this week to discuss recommendations for booster shots, including who should get them and when. As of right now, travel is not considered to be a valid reason to get a booster shot.

If you’re planning to travel internationally in the future, make sure to check both your passport expiration date and your vaccination date—as well as the entry requirements at your destination to avoid an unexpected trip cancellation.