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

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.

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.