6 month validity on covid vaccine passport- Italy

[Keladrythesaviour]

Sorry to bring covid on to this board, but is anyone else looking line they might be affected by this new ruling in Italy (and maybe other countries, I'm not sure?)
As of February the covid vaccine will only have a 6 month validity, from what I've read. I had my booster in December and am due to go to Italy in June, so it runs out slap bang in the middle of my three week holiday. I've already moved this holiday three times
I know things are changing so quickly, but I don't see how this makes any sense, because surely most people over the age of 30 are going to be similarly affected, and anyone with any kind of vulnerability who was vaccinated early.
Do people envisage the Italian system changing as we get closer, or will there be buy-your-own booster options etc?
I'm not really sure what I'm asking, just absolutely gutted at the thought of cancelling this holiday again as I think I'll have to cancel for good this time.

[Verite1]

Just to say that gov.Uk website has now been updated to confirm that booster had unlimited validity in Italy. Yay!

[dancingvic]

Also following this with interest. My heart sank when I interpreted guidelines meaning that as carers, having our boosters early Nov means 9 months is when we have our only opportunity to travel. We have erred on the side of caution and stayed local all this time, it will be the most disappointing news if we can't travel abroad and see relatives.

[Keladrythesaviour]

@Geamhradh agreed! It's the same across countries I think, they're changed systems so many times we don't know if we are coming or going. Currently got a situation with one of my team at work (which I can't go in to) but trying to wade through some of the changing covid policies is proving a beaurocracy nightmare.

[Geamhradh]

Yes, I'm sure it will be clarified, hopefully lifting the restriction fully. Lots of other bits of the press conference are talking about removing restrictions so it would make more sense to NOT give with one hand and take with the other!
Fingers crossed we're all finally coming out of all this and can travel again without needing a degree in interpreting bureaucratic gobbledegook!

[Keladrythesaviour]

@Geamhradh - thank you so much for copying that over, it's very helpful. I think maybe that text is not referring to the booster, but the double vaccination. Which would then match the English reports. I have found a lot of the publications are very 'clumsy' with their language. When they say 'completion of vaccination cycle' they usually seem to mean the two initial vaccinations. The booster is then counted separately from that and not as part of the cycle.
But as you say, we will see in more detail over the coming days hopefully.

[Geamhradh]

It's not completely clear at the moment, as lots of the English language sites are saying what the site above says, while the Italian press are saying what I copied above.
Hopefully it will be clarified next week when the actual legislation is published!

[Geamhradh]

A coloro che provengono da uno Stato estero e sono in possesso di un certificato di avvenuta guarigione o avvenuta vaccinazione con un vaccino autorizzato o riconosciuto come equivalente in Italia, nel caso in cui siano trascorsi più di sei mesi dal completamento del ciclo vaccinale o dalla guarigione, è consentito l'accesso ai servizi e alle attività per i quali è previsto il Green Pass Rafforzato previa effettuazione di un test antigenico rapido (validità 48 ore) o molecolare (validità 72 ore). Ciò vale anche per coloro che hanno effettuato vaccinazioni con vaccini non autorizzati o non riconosciuti come equivalenti in Italia, sempre previa effettuazione di un tampone.

This is the actual statement from the press conference- almost identical to that website's interpretation but I've highlighted the bit that's different. In various news articles it does mention that for foreign visitors their booster needs to be less than 180 days.

[Keladrythesaviour]

@Geamhradh that contradicts what I've read from the updates online which is that under the new ruling of Wednesday 2nd February, even as a foreign national if you have the booster from one of the recognised sources (which the UK is) you have the equivalent of the super green pass. If you don't have the booster, then within 6 months of your last vaccine yourcovid passport is out of date and you will be required to do regular testing to access facilities.
The point of the new ruling was to help open up to tourism again so if all foreign nationals had to do daily testing it would go against that.

This is the information italygreenpass.com has supplied:
^Everyone, both Italian and foreign, who has received a booster dose OR recovered from Covid after completing the initial vaccination cycle, will now have a vaccination/recovery certificate without any expiration date. I.e., the six-month timeframe no longer applies in these cases. (The only possible reason this would change in the future is if and when the EMA and AIFA issue new guidance regarding a fourth dose).
Foreign visitors who have vaccination or recovery certificates more than six months old and have only completed their initial vaccination cycle (generally two doses, with the exception of the one-dose J&J vaccine), or have recovered from Covid without having previously completed their initial vaccination cycle, will need to take a rapid antigen test every 48 hours or a PCR test every 72 hours to access venues that require a super green pass.^

[Geamhradh]

The latter- if your booster/recovery cert is more than 6 months old, to access places that ask for a Super Green Pass you'll be able to do an LFT (validity 48 hours) or PCR (validity 72)

[Keladrythesaviour]

@Geamhradh sorry can you clarify? Is that the one test 48/72hours prior to entry? Or a test every time you want to go somewhere and do something?

[Geamhradh]

@Keladrythesaviour

I've just read online that Italy has approved indefinite validity on booster doses!! Fabulous news!

Source: italiangreenpass.com

Yes- but for foreign tourists if your booster was more than 6months you'll have to test to get a green pass.
Still good news!

[Keladrythesaviour]

I've just read online that Italy has approved indefinite validity on booster doses!! Fabulous news!

Source: italiangreenpass.com

[MojoJojo71]

That’s reassuring @Geamhradh I’m keeping my fingers crossed they’ll come to their senses.

I work in the NHS and so had my vaccinations early. My booster was in September and we have a holiday booked in Italy for May half term. I did this questionnaire online and it looks like if I don’t have valid vaccination status they require 5 days of self isolation so I’m screwed. Even if they did let me in I was planning to get a bus to the campsite and they won’t let me on without a super green pass and I’m not eligible for that either 😭

infocovid.viaggiaresicuri.it/returningtoitaly.html

[Keladrythesaviour]

@Geamhradh thank you for the update! How did they not see that coming...

[Geamhradh]

180! 180!
Why do I keep typing 270.

[Geamhradh]

Bit of an update from last night's news:
It was shoved into the end of the "here are today's numbers". It said that the government will be looking into the fact that the GPs/SGPs expire 270 days after the booster, with a view to extending their validity but it will depend on how things go wrt infections etc. It specifically mentioned healthcare workers who were vaccinated earlier than everyone else, and so had their booster around the end of August.

So, fingers crossed.

[Keladrythesaviour]

@jlgsy94 no, I will closer to deadline time if there hasn't been further clarification. I'd just been interested to hear if other people were feeling the same sense of confusion over information being published!

[jlgsy94]

[quote Keladrythesaviour]@jlgsy94 this is the problem, I keep soothing myself with "rationally" and then read the information and think "wtf". So I'm oscillating between stress and reassurance. I think only time will tell, which is not the answer I'm after.[/quote]
Have you tried contacting the Italian embassy or the like for clarification?

[Keladrythesaviour]

@jlgsy94 this is the problem, I keep soothing myself with "rationally" and then read the information and think "wtf". So I'm oscillating between stress and reassurance. I think only time will tell, which is not the answer I'm after.

[jlgsy94]

[quote nancy75]@jlgsy94 once you get in to Italy you can’t sit in or outside a restaurant, or even go on a bus with their green pass - so it would make for a very boring holiday without one [/quote]
One would have to argue that, surely, they can’t put an expiration date on their super green pass following a booster, as per the EC there is not enough data to be able to say how long immunity lasts as yet.

[nancy75]

@jlgsy94 once you get in to Italy you can’t sit in or outside a restaurant, or even go on a bus with their green pass - so it would make for a very boring holiday without one

[jlgsy94]

[quote nancy75]@jlgsy94 isn’t that only for travel? Italy will let you in but there is no point if you can’t do anything or go anywhere once you’ve arrived[/quote]
Yes for travel, which is what I thought was the problem… oops ?

Hmm, the whole situation is just ridiculous.

[nancy75]

@jlgsy94 isn’t that only for travel? Italy will let you in but there is no point if you can’t do anything or go anywhere once you’ve arrived

[jlgsy94]

@lljkk

Thanks to AnyFucker re Spain rules... that affects travel plans I want to make. I wanted to go when I would be ... 280 days after last covide jab.

So... these types of rules basically mean we should all be vaxx'd (whatever umpteenth time we're offered... as late as possible before travel, right?).

I was going to get DS's 2nd jab next week (convenient) but not convenient at all since it will probably mean booster sooner to do other travel. Really should get it done later, then.

Spain, Italy or whatever other EU country you travel to cannot shorten the validity of your vaccination certificate. From 1 February 2022 vaccination certificates will remain valid for 9 months after you’ve had your final dose of primary vaccination course. However, once you have had your booster, your vaccine certificate will remain valid until further notice. This will be legally binding to all 27 EU member states. The original Covid certificate legislation is due to expire after 12 months following its inception (1st July). So, unless they’re going to Jab people time and time again, I assume the law will cease at that point.

[lljkk]

Thanks to AnyFucker re Spain rules... that affects travel plans I want to make. I wanted to go when I would be ... 280 days after last covide jab.

So... these types of rules basically mean we should all be vaxx'd (whatever umpteenth time we're offered... as late as possible before travel, right?).

I was going to get DS's 2nd jab next week (convenient) but not convenient at all since it will probably mean booster sooner to do other travel. Really should get it done later, then.