US issues vaccine-based entry rules for air travel

The new rules would mean significant easing of restrictions on countries like India, Brazil, South Africa and the UK.

Most adults who are not US citizens or permanent residents and Want to fly to the country on or after November 8th According to a new presidential proclamation signed by US President Joe Biden on Monday. The rules, which also include pre-travel testing specifications, are expected for weeks and will be in line with individual, country-specific regulations. For certain jurisdictions and countries, including India, Brazil, Ireland, the Schengen Area, South Africa and the UK, Where entry into the US has been an exception to the ruleThis would mean significant easing of restrictions.

“For purposes of entry into the United States, vaccines will be accepted that include vaccines approved or authorized by the FDA and WHO emergency use listed vaccines,” a senior administration official told reporters on a briefing call on Monday. Covishield – a version of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured in India – is on the WHO’s list, while the world health body is meeting on Tuesday whether to add Covaxin, another Indian vaccine by Bharat Biotech, to the list.

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Children under the age of 18 are exempt from the vaccine entry requirement because many countries do not allow children to be vaccinated on the CDC list.

A senior administration official told reporters on a briefing call that unaffiliated US citizens and permanent residents (“green card” holders) must show a negative test within a day of the departure of their flights to the US. Only certain exemptions will exist for non-US citizens and residents, most of whom will be barred from entry (individuals with these exemptions must also show a negative test taken the day before travel).

These exemptions include people traveling from countries with limited vaccine availability (defined as having a vaccine rate of less than 10%) – unless they are on a B1 or B2 visa – and whose Vaccines are contraindicated (including because of severe anaphylactic reactions to previous Covid-19 vaccines).

Those who have been vaccinated will still need to provide a negative Covid-19 test, but there should be a large window of three days (instead of one day) from their flight to get tested.

According to a senior administration official, the administration is due to issue technical guidance to airlines and testing and tracing through the CDC on Monday.

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