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(OVERTAKEN BY EVENTS) USA to retain coronavirus vaccination rules for travellers

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EDIT: This story became redundant overnight when the Biden administration chose to overrule the CDC and remove vaccination requirements from 11th May.

The current coronavirus restrictions in the USA were timing out on 11th May, and most people expected that they would be removed in full from this date.

In a surprising move, whilst some restrictions will be dropped, the requirement for arrivals by air to be vaccinated against coronavirus will remain.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced the new rules last Thursday.

USA makes surprise decision to retain covid vaccination rules

From 11th May, the vaccination rule will be:

  • you must have received two doses of a recognised covid vaccine, at least two weeks before entry or
  • if the vaccine was received after 16th August 2022, selected types of vaccine are acceptable after one dose, received at least two weeks before entry

The following caveats apply:

  • the requirement only applies if arriving into the USA by air, not land
  • it only applies to foreign nationals, not US citizens or permanent residents
  • it only applies to those aged 18+

Whilst those under 18 are exempt from vaccination, they are still required to take a covid test within 3-5 of arriving in the United States unless they can show documentation of having recovered from covid in the past 90 days. We were reminded about this when we entered the US with our children at Easter. You do not need to submit the results of this test to anyone.

This does, of course, make the US an outlier compared to other major economies. Canada does not require proof of vaccination, and of course the EU does not. You do not even require proof of vaccination to enter China.

From a practical point of view, this means that if you are flying to the US you will need to continue submitting vaccination data to your airline in advance of travel.

Category

General

Comments (52)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • The Lord says:
    2 May2 May 05:23

    This seems to suggest the opposite

    “Today, we are announcing that the Administration will end the Covid-19 vaccine requirements for Federal employees, Federal contractors, and international air travellers at the end of the day on May 11, the same day that the Covid-19 public health emergency ends,” the White House said in a statement.

    • marcolau says:
      2 May2 May 05:29

      Looking on the news articles, there were some changes last Thursday, which Rob referred to here.
      However, the drop of the policy altogether came pretty late in UK time yesterday – very unfortunate timing for the team being unable to rewrite the article in time for this.

      • Lou says:
        2 May2 May 06:00

        We’ll all have a good chuckle about this in a couple of hours

    • Save East Coast Rewards says:
      2 May2 May 05:41

      It does seem, based on other sources, this this article is well and truly wrong. I had two doses and have had no issue with entry to the US but after seeing this article got worried that I was going to have to bother with VeriFLY or queuing at a desk for my short trip to the US in August. Fortunately it’s not needed

      • BA Flyer IHG Stayer says:
        2 May2 May 06:07

        It was correct when Rob wrote it.

        He can’t be responsible if the US government changes its mind literally overnight.

        No doubt it will be amended when Rob starts work.

        • Save East Coast Rewards says:
          2 May2 May 06:20

          These things have always changed rather quickly. I remember Italy talking about extending their restrictions back in early 2022 a few days before they were due to expire and then ending up scrapping them. This news article is based on changes made last Thursday, just a tinkering to some existing rules. It didn’t make sense to run an article until it was actually confirmed.

  • Mark says:
    2 May2 May 05:27

    This article was probably queued up some time before the US announced they were dropping the vaccine mandate on Monday. The change being reported here was announced on Sunday and was definitely rather confusing

  • HH says:
    2 May2 May 05:28

    Reuters are reporting the opposite… https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-end-covid-19-vaccination-requirements-may-11-white-house-2023-05-01/

  • Will in SJC says:
    2 May2 May 06:00

    Gotta feel for Rob, Rhys and team. White House announced, shortly after 9pm London, that from next week the requirement will be dropped alongside other requirements for federal employees. No real fanfare over here in the States on the announcement- very much under the radar.

    Interestingly I haven’t been asked for proof on any of my flights back to the US from the UK in the last 6 months (I am a US visa holder not a perm resident so technically was caught by this rule).

  • JC says:
    2 May2 May 06:53

    What a pitiful nation ….. glad I don’t have to live there anymore

  • Iain Riley says:
    2 May2 May 07:14

    Aer Lingus didn’t ask me for any vaccination info last December DUB/IAD.

  • PeterK says:
    2 May2 May 07:24

    We flew on BA to the US in early April and there was no request to upload Covid certificates. On a separate booking my son kept getting messages to upload but whenever followed the link it said all docs were OK. He even rang BA who said all was in order and they couldn’t understand why he was getting the messages. Could it be that the BA system was still holding Covid passes from earlier trips so they knew we were vaccinated?

  • Alan says:
    2 May2 May 07:27

    Looks like it’s been dropped too, Rob… https://onemileatatime.com/news/united-states-ends-vaccine-requirement-international-travel/

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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