COVID-19: USA to require vaccine for incoming travellers

No official announcement yet, but Reuters is reporting, based on an un-named White House official’s statement that the Biden administration is working on a plan requiring foreign visitors to the USA to be COVID-19 vaccinated

Currently, the USA has travel restrictions on most visitors arriving from most countries including Brazil, China, India, Schengen Zone, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

There have been criticisms of the current system because bans appear to be based on outdated information, say when a country had an outbreak months ago, prior to the availability of vaccines.

Vaccines and testing

The current regimen requires pre-flight testing, and this might still be required under the new rules, as even vaccinated travellers can carry the virus while asymptomatic.

We don’t know what the new rules will be yet but presume they will be based on travellers being vaccinated. We don’t know if all vaccines will count, although I bet Russian and Chinese vaccines will not be included as they are not currently approved by USA health bodies

2PAXfly Takeout

This is another timely reminder to wear your seatbelt when seated. Holding you close to your seat will protect you from the sort of injuries sustained on this flight, when unsecured passengers flew to the ceiling of the aircraft, and then came crashing down once the ‘drop’ ceased.

The hope will be that this is an anomaly – a ‘freak accident’ in casual parlance. If it is a systemic error either mechanical or electronic, then this is a larger concern for the airlines that fly Boeing Dreamliner 787 aircraft. Let’s hope it isn’t. If it is, it will pile on the woes to Boeing’s existing stack.

This of course is all irrelevant for most Australian travellers, since we are not actually allowed to travel internationally at the moment. However, whatever policy the USA government determines will influence other countries.

If Australia does achieve 80% vaccination of its adult population, and therefore according to the government’s 4 phase plan opens for international travel, then it will be good to know that vaccination along with a passport will allow you to enter the USA.