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These Countries Will Require a COVID-19 Booster Shot to Get In

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by Olivia Harden Morgane Croissant Jan 21, 2022

If you were first in line to get your COVID-19 vaccination, you’d better also be eager to receive a booster shot. The Omicron variant is putting the current COVID-19 vaccine through a tough test and some countries are already thinking beyond the first two shots by requiring booster shots from international travelers.

Croatia is one of the first country to have set a booster shot requirement for international travelers. The Balkan nations asks that travelers provide a “certificate not older than 365 days of receipt of two doses of vaccine used in EU Member States (Pfizer, Moderna, AstaZeneca, Gamaleya, Sinopharm) or vaccines approved by the World Health Organization for emergency use (Serum Institute of India — Covishield, Bharat Biotech — Covaxin, Sinovac — CoronaVac) or presentation of a certificate not older than 365 days of receipt one dose of vaccine received in one dose (Janssen / Johnson & Johnson) if 14 days have passed since receiving that one dose,” according to the Croatian government website.

That means in Croatia, your vaccine card is only valid for 12 months before you’re expected to receive a booster shot.

Similarly, Austria has toughened up its entry requirement for those who are vaccinated. While fully-vaccinated travelers are allowed to enter Austria upon presentation of the negative results of a PCR test, and proof of past infection or proof of full vaccination, the country’s Official Travel Portal explains that “Two-dose vaccinations are currently valid for 270 days after the second or any additional dose.” After the 270th day, a booster shot will be needed to enter Austria.

Note that all those who have received a booster shot do not need to provide a PCR test to enter Austria.

Travelers to Spain will also soon need to have received a booster shot to enter the country. Spain’s Official Tourism Website states that “As of February 1, 2022, keep in mind that you will need 14 days from the last dose [of the COVID-19 vaccine] at least and no more than 270 days since the date of administration of your last dose. From that moment on, your vaccination certificate must show the administration of your booster dose.” Spain only accepts travelers who have received the following vaccines: Pfizer-Biontech, Moderna, Astra-Zeneca, Jansen/Johnson & Johnson, Sinovac and Sinopharm.

A version of this article was previously published on August 23, 20121, and was updated on January 22, 2022, with more information.

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