EU Updates Covid Pass Rules for Traveling Kids

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The European Commission updated a set of rules for traveling children as part of its Digital Covid Certificate program under which vaccination certificates held by minors will not expire after 270 days. 

More specifically, under the new regulations, children under 18 are exempt from the 270-day acceptance period for Covid-19 certification following the primary vaccination series. This means that minors up to 18 years of age can continue using the Covid certificate issued after receiving their primary series of vaccination. 

At the same time, a booster shot is not required despite authorization by the European Medicines Agency for children 12 years or older. 

EU Digital COVID Certificate

The decision comes in view of differing booster shot requirements for minors in EU states.

This means that each EU country must apply the exemption after adapting verification applications at entry points by April 6.

“Following discussions with member states’ public health experts, we have decided that the vaccination certificates of minors should not expire. When traveling, they will be able to continue using the certificate received after the primary series of vaccination,” said Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders.