With the new pandemic wave worldwide, vaccination against Covid-19 remains a major concern. The booster dose adds to the ongoing debate. States are stepping up their vaccination campaign, with some considering making the booster dose a mandatory entry condition. Others prefer to reserve this third dose for vulnerable categories of people.
The end of year season kickstarts the celebrations and increased travel period. So what should travellers and expatriates expect?
Israel, the pioneer in vaccination
It's uncertain whether the world is ready to follow the Israeli model. Still, the country was one of the first to embark on a massive vaccination campaign. The campaign is ongoing, and, as of last summer, many elderly and frail people have already been considered for the booster dose, which will then be extended to healthy people. The eligibility threshold dropped as the Delta, and the latest Omicron variants threaten the country's balance. Now, all children over 12 can receive a third dose of the vaccine, considering the current sanitary situation. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett considers this booster dose a "privilege that other countries do not have." As such, the Israeli green pass is only valid for six months. After that period, the booster dose is possible. The booster dose is also required for any foreigner travelling to Israel.
The WHO's opinion on the booster dose
Has the booster done become essential for international travel? In France, the Scientific Council and the Vaccine Strategy Orientation Council (COSV) seem to be taking the lead. From December 15, the health pass will be conditional on obtaining the 3rd dose for those over 65. Besides, France is opening the booster vaccination for those over 50 as of December 1, but this should not affect the health pass, at least for now. Ultimately, the aim is to ensure that the entire adult population has got their booster dose for their health pass to be considered valid. Travellers to France would therefore also be affected. However, the WHO believes that the booster dose for non-priority people can wait until January 2022. The Organization still recommends triple vaccination for fragile people, the immunocompromised, and those who have received Chinese vaccines (which are less resistant to the new variants).
For Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, it is "a scandal" that must be stopped immediately. He believes that it does not make sense to give booster doses to healthy adults or children when health workers, the elderly, and other high-risk populations are still waiting for their first dose of vaccine in other parts of the world. For the WHO, it is clearly impossible to eradicate Covid-19 with such vaccine inequality. Barely 5% of the population is vaccinated in Africa, and contamination rates are probably underestimated. Figures look a little more promising in South America, where 20-30% of the populations are vaccinated), but it's still far below the rates seen in states with access to vaccines.
Could the booster dose become a general travel requirement?
It's still unsure whether all States will backtrack and follow all WHO recommendations. In Croatia, the vaccination passport has become perishable since last August - precisely nine months after the last injection. The same applies to Austria. Switzerland, on the other hand, extends the validity of the vaccination passport to 1 year. Israel remains one of the most restrictive countries with 6 months of validity.
Triple vaccination travel has not become the norm yet. Still, the long-term validity of the health pass seems to depend on the booster dose in many countries. Faced with the health emergency, Germany is making urgent appeals to the unvaccinated people and accelerating the booster dose campaign. For the German Minister of Health, Jens Spahn, taking the booster dose after six months must become the rule and not the exception. On Monday, November 22, the minister made an alarming statement: "It is likely that by the end of winter, almost everyone in Germany will have been vaccinated, will have recovered or will be dead". While some say this cynically, the current situation looks dramatic in Germany. The government made it clear that the country's future is at stake.
The United Kingdom is considering similar arrangements while reassuring expatriates that they will be able to come and spend the Christmas holidays in the territory even without the booster dose. The United States and Canada have not made the booster dose mandatory either. While it is clearly recommended for all adults, there is no obligation yet for it on travellers to get it done.
The aim of most States today is to save Christmas. Caught between the resurgence of two highly contagious variants, Delta and Omicron, there is a real threat to economies. The current crisis makes it hard to impose the booster dose on people. Moreover, the deadlines are too short, and the Christmas period is too important to miss out. The new pandemic wave has already shattered the too many travel and immigration plans that have been delayed on and on. While the WHO urges states to follow its immunization policy plan, there are reasons to believe that the booster dose will soon become the rule.
