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.

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

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

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

Source: italiangreenpass.com

@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!

@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?

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)

@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.^

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.

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 - 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.

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!

@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.

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.

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