Just got the new Covid Booster

Proof of vaccine is no longer required to enter Germany. You can verify that here on the official gov. website

https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/coronavirus/2317268

Thank you! That of course could change in the next 3-4 weeks but who knows.

Would any place in Germany want proof of vaccination status like a museum, restaurant, hotel, etc.?

Interesting, I just received an email from Walgreens (parent company of Duane Reade) that my booster information is now updated on their app and just confirmed that it is there.

Of course, things can always change. I’m traveling later this week and will take my CDC card even though it’s not currently required anywhere that i'll be traveling.

Masks are required on all the trains in Germany—surgical or FFP2/N95.

https://www.bahn.com/en/booking-information/safe-travel

Have a great trip!!!

Carrie,
So excited for you, pls keep us posted!
Safe travels!

That's awesome that you got your booster! I think carrying the vaccine card and/or electronic verification with us as we travel is the new norm. Passport? check. Money of some form, lol? check. Vax card? Check.

I don't know how your electronic vax card is, but I would probably do a screen shot and file it in an album on your phone or put it in the notes section on your phone so you have easy access to it.

Happy everyone is traveling!

Pam

I’ll definitely take a picture of the electronic VAX card as soon as it’s updated to include today’s updated booster because my last vaccine happened one year ago. I’ve got my N95 masks for the DB and will also wear them on the plane when I’m not eating or drinking.

I like your checklist!

Two weeks into our trip, no vaccine requirement anywhere we’ve been in Switzerland and now three days in Italy.

Good to hear, Rob.

Just to say... being masked is no guarantee. I was, through the airports and on my flights from the US to Europe last month, and I came down with Covid three days after my arrival. The problem is, "my mask protects you; your mask protects me." The stranger seated next to me and most others on the plane were not masked. Bingo! (Fortunately, mine was a pretty mild case, so I think my four shots helped with that.)

That’s great Continental! Here is hoping you have a great trip with no covid, no lost luggage, and no unexpected flight delays.

Unfortunately, my strategy backfired. I am leaving on Sept 20th and I waited until late July to get my fourth booster thinking I would be better protected for my trip if I got the vaccine closer to my departure date. Of course, now I am not yet eligible for the reformulated vaccine as it hasn’t been 2 months. Bummer.

Laura, I thought the new booster covering variants would be approved & released in mid to late autumn. I was bummed that I would miss it. I was then stunned to learn that it was approved prior to Labor Day weekend but then readily available the Tuesday after Labor Day!

Janet, I’m so sorry to hear that. I’m going to do what I can on the plane meaning wear the N95 on the flight except for eating/drinking, wiping down the tray and all around me with a Clorox wipe as well as the door & the insides of the lavatory each time I go. I’ll also wear latex gloves. Will that be fool-proof? Of course not. But I’m hoping it will help along with the new antibodies inside of me! I splurged by cashing out my miles to get Premium Select Seats so there will be some room & I’ll be in the bulkhead roundtrip.

@ Continental - Just curious, how did you feel after the most recent booster? Besides the sore arm, any mild flu-like symptoms in the 24 hours following your shot? Yes, I know, everyone's different.

I've had 4 shots (all Moderna), most recent for me was mid-March 2022, so'll be at the 6-month mark any day now (I'm thinking I'll wait until around 1 October to get shot #5, so as to give myself better coverage through April).

I had very mild flu-like symptoms following the first 3 shots (typically the night after the jab), but was surprised when last Spring's booster left me feeling surprisingly flu-ish for almost 24 hours. Now trying to plan my upcoming post-jab day (and wondering if I should get both the COVID booster and regular flu shot on the same day).

FWIW I do not have any immediate travel planned, but just might be tempted to do a spontaneous trip on short notice in October or November, so I'm thinking I'll want to get the Gen 2 booster shot before then.

Just got back from 2 weeks in Germany a couple weeks ago. I was never once asked for proof of vaccination anywhere - museums, restaurants, etc.

David, I got the latest booster at 9 AM one week ago and developed the chills around 6 PM to the point that I was shaking like the proverbial leaf. I had a mild fever — 100. I was very tired and ate a light dinner and went to bed early evening. I woke up the next morning and the chills were gone but I was sleepy the entire day. No fever. No stomach issues, no headaches, no sore throats. I was just flat out exhausted. I went to bed early and woke up the next day absolutely refreshed and ready to go.

As far as Covid shots go, this was actually the best reaction I’ve ever had. It really could’ve been a lot worse. I had the Pfizer vaccine because that’s what I’ve always had. I was asked if I wanted to get the flu shot at the same time but chose not to do so. I’m actually getting it tomorrow.

As for arm soreness, I did arm stretching exercises found on YouTube to minimize the pain from the shot and it worked. I did them throughout the first day and the second day and I experienced very little soreness.

This omicron variant booster is good for 1 year so you won’t need to get one in six months! I hope you get the opportunity to travel later this fall. Last minute opportunities can be such a fun.

JE, that’s great news. I had wondered and I really appreciate your sharing that.

David, my arm never hurt but I developed a mild headache and a general malaise about 6 hours later for about 24 hours. My first four were Pfizer while this bivalent one was Maderna as that is what the pharmacy had. We left for Portugal five days later.

David, just adding one more data point. I got mine yesterday. I'd had 4 Modernas but all the pharmacy had this time was Pfizer so I went with it. I had a slightly yucky stomach and in spite of doing hourly arm exercises probably similar to Continental's, had a sore arm last night. That's mostly abated this morning and I'm now a bit more than 24 hours out.

I'll say that I'm sorry I did not have a more robust immune response to this vaccine but it is what it is.....

Continental, I did not know this one is supposed to be good for a year.

Pam, The Wall Street Journal reported on September 6 that barring any new “curveball” variant, federal health officials now recommend the majority of Americans get a Covid booster annually.

Oh, that is interesting. Thanks for that information!

Thanks for the data points. I'm planning for my #5 jab around October 1. I'm also planning a "light duty, low expectations" day for the following day.

I had my fifth covid shot on 9/11 and got the annual flu vaccine, too. I have U.S. domestic trips throughout October and am taking the same precautions I have all of this year. My arm was sore for 2 days and I was mildly fatigued for about 31 hours. No other symptoms or side-effects at all.

I continue to be astonished when I go out for errands in my suburb of Albuquerque, NM. No one is wearing a mask anywhere, except for me. The current covid variant is extremely contagious and a real danger to older people and those with certain medical conditions. I will continue to wear a KN-95 mask when in public and not eat in public indoor settings, for the foreseeable future. It's a price I have to pay for others' reluctance to be vaccinated and their cavalier attitude toward public health.

here's another data point - got the Moderna Bivalent Spikevax Autumn booster jab at 6pm on this Thursday. Both my wife and I were completely fine that evening and overnight. Woke up yesterday shivering and shaking, and completely exhausted. So much so that my wife needed me to get her to the toilet and back. No significant headache or measurable fever. I got up around 3 in the afternoon, still cold and she slept until 6. Paracetamol twice during the day. Early bed.

Today we are both fine as frog's hair (as my father used to say), and that's pretty fine.

Well worth it to lose a day of my life for the potential benefit, especially as this bivalent one has much more protection against Omicron.

I got the Moderna bivalent booster last Sunday. My arm was somewhat sore for two days but otherwise I felt fine. It seems like the side effects can vary quite a bit from person to person.