Unlocking the World
The United States administration has finally decided to exempt from the entry ban for vaccinated travellers from the 26 Schengen Area countries, the UK, and Ireland, among others.
The move was announced on September 19, Monday, after being warned for months and mounting pressure from the EU institutions and officials.
>> Irish & EU Ambassador Expect US to Remove “Outdated” Travel Ban on Europeans
While the US government is yet to come with an official statement in this regard, revealing more information on how the removal of the entry ban will work, several things about it are already known.
When Will, the Removal of the US Entry Ban, Take Place?
Announcing the decision to permit entry for vaccinated travellers from countries that fall subject to the US entry ban, the US administration only noted that such a thing would take place only in early November.
While an exact date hasn’t been given by any of the US authorities and officials, it is believed that the entry ban will be removed by November 15 at the latest.
Who Will Benefit From the US’ Removal of the Entry Ban?
Travellers from the 26 Schengen Area countries, Ireland, the UK, China, India, South Africa, Iran, and Brazil, who have been vaccinated against COVID-19, will be able to travel to the US soon.
According to the diplomatic mission of the European Union to the United States, travellers will also need to present negative COVID-19 test results within 72 hours of departure and have their plane ticket with them.
“Great news on transatlantic travel: #TravelBan lifted! Starting in early November, the United States will welcome vaccinated travellers.
What you need:
- Proof of full vaccination
- Proof of negative COVID-19 test within three days of departure
- Your ticket!”
Which Vaccines Will Be Accepted?
Since Monday, when the White House announced that the travel ban would be removed for vaccinated travellers who have so far been banned from entering the US, travellers have been asking which vaccines would be accepted for entry in the US.
In a press conference held on Tuesday, an EU Commission spokesperson said that it is expected that the US travel will permit entry for travellers who have been vaccinated with all EMA-approved vaccines, including the AstraZeneca vaccine. The latter has not been approved by the US federal agency Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yet.
“From our point of view, obviously, it would make sense for people who have been vaccinated with AstraZeneca to be able to travel,” the spokesperson said.
The European Medicines Agency has so far approved four vaccines for use, which are Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Janssen, and Moderna. Several EU countries have vaccinated travellers with other vaccines, as Covishield and Sputnik V.
On the same day, the NDTV quoted an unnamed US top medical body claiming that a vaccinated person will be any person who has received has been fully vaccinated with a vaccine approved by the FDA or the World Health Organization (WHO).
So far, the FDA has approved Moderna, Pfizer, and Janssen. The WHO, on the other hand, has approved Pfizer, AstraZeneca (including Covishield), Janssen, Moderna, Sinopharm, as well as Sinovac.
On Tuesday, the American physician-scientist and immunologist serving as the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the Chief Medical Advisor to the President, Anthony Fauci, said that those vaccinated with the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine should also be permitted to enter the US in November.
In conclusion, those vaccinated with Pfizer, Moderna, and Janssen will for sure be permitted to enter, while for Europeans vaccinated with AstraZeneca, it is still a matter of discussion, though the chances are high that the same will also be permitted to enter.
Will Those Vaccinated With Mixed Vaccines Be Counted as Fully Vaccinated?
It remains unknown whether those vaccinated with mixed jabs, i.e. AstraZeneca + Pfizer, will be counted as fully vaccinated. The number of those vaccinated with mixed vaccines is quite high in the EU after many countries suspended vaccination with the second jab of the AstraZeneca vaccine after doubts of side effects in youngsters.
The UK, however, now recognizes the status of those vaccinated with two different Coronavirus vaccines as fully vaccinated.
Who May Be Unable to Benefit From the Removal of the Entry Ban?
The removal of the entry ban for travellers from the EU will apply only to those vaccinated. As explained above, though it is still unknown which vaccines will be accepted, those who have been vaccinated with vaccines as Sputnik V, which have not been approved by the WHO yet, will for sure be unable to benefit from the removal of the entry ban.
Travellers who have received only the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine do not qualify to be exempted from the entry ban either.
Those vaccinated with mixed may also be excluded from the list of those who will be counted as fully vaccinated.
Travellers who have in the past 14 days been in the countries for which an entry ban currently applies, reaching the US from the land border from Canada and Mexico, will also be unable to benefit from the move.
Will the Vaccination Requirement Apply to Countries That Are Not Subject to the Entry Ban?
Announcing the decision, the US administration has noted that travellers from countries who have been banned for over a year now will be able to enter the US in November if they are fully vaccinated.
The administration has not said anything whether such a requirement will start applying to countries travel from which has been permitted so far.
Is There a Chance for Those Who Have Recovered From COVID-19 to Permitted to Enter the US Too?
According to what has been revealed so far, those who have recovered from COVID-19 will not be exempted from the entry ban.
