Travel restrictions keep evolving for those who have gotten the COVID-19 vaccine shots.
Fully vaccinated Americans looking to travel this summer will be able to add the European Union to their list of potential destinations, Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, told The New York Times in an interview on Sunday.
Quoting that the U.S. is administering “European Medicines Agency-approved vaccines,” von der Leyen told the Times that “free movement and the travel to the European Union” would be possible.
The European Commission is working to make sure travelers can corroborate vaccination with documentation that is compatible with its proposed Digital Green Certificate.
“All 27 member states will accept, unconditionally, all those who are vaccinated with vaccines that are approved by E.M.A.,” von der Leyen is quoted by the Times.
The commission is working with U.S. Homeland Security on a system for the recognition Americans’ vaccination certificates, — referred to as vaccine passports — including in terms of ensuring coherence and compatibility.
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Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Americans who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can resume travel at low risk to themselves, the agency is still not recommending travel given rising COVID case counts.
The State Department last week said it was raising the alert level for a significant number of countries as it factors the CDC’s COVID-19 data more heavily into its rating system.
The agency said about 80% of countries will now carry the “Do not travel” label, a Level 4.
With immediate neighbors Mexico and Canada, the Department of Homeland Security borders will remain restricted to nonessential travel through at least May 21.