Please sign in to post.

14-day rule for vaccination?

A bit confused by the 14-day rule for vaccinations. Say you are fully vaccinated (single dose J&J) but it was more than 7 months ago (April 2021). So you take the booster a week before your trip to Greece, that meets all the conditions, right? The full vaccination is more than 14 days prior to the trip but since that is not enough, we can take a booster which has unlimited validity. We only have 7 days before our flight, so it is not possible for us to get a booster 14 days prior to our trip. Any suggestions?

Posted by
8346 posts

This is taken from this website https://travel.gov.gr/#/
"
B. Travellers arriving from Australia, Canada and the United States of America are permitted to enter Greece under the condition that they display one of the following:

a) Vaccination certificate (for those who have completed vaccination for COVID-19 at least fourteen (14) days before arrival) valid for 9 months after the completion of the basic vaccination and without time limit for travellers who have received the booster dose. The vaccination certificate must include the full name of the traveller as registered in the passport, the type of vaccine given, the number of doses and inoculation dates, or

b) Proof of recovery from SARS-CoV-2 infection, issued 14 days after the day of the first positive COVID-19 test (PCR or Rapid Antigen test) and valid for 180 days thereafter, or

c) Negative molecular test for COVID-19 (PCR) performed up to 72 hours before the scheduled arrival, or negative Rapid Antigen test performed up to 24 hours before the scheduled arrival."

This is what you need to go by. I don't see that there is an issue about how long ago any boosters were given. You could choose to get one prior to leaving if you like. If you are still concerned, you could also bring a test result with you.

Posted by
10 posts

Yes, thanks it is exactly what we are reading from. But we have a unique situation - Trying to interpret what complete vaccination means. One dose for J&J? If yes, then yes, we have taken it 14 days before BUT it is not valid anymore. So we need the booster. But can the booster be taken 7 days prior to travel??
Vaccination certificate (for those who have completed vaccination for COVID-19 at least fourteen (14) days before arrival) valid for 9 months after the completion of the basic vaccination and without time limit for travellers who have received the booster dose.

Posted by
8346 posts

I can see where the Johnson and Johnson one dose regime may add an element of uncertainty. It does list J and J as an approved vaccine. My suggestion at this point is to get the booster (unless medically contraindicated) and do an antigen test just before you leave for Greece. Then, there should be no question that you will be fine.

Posted by
27063 posts

Yes, the wording does not make it clear--at least to me--whether the 14-day requirement applies only to the original vaccination or also to the booster. I don't remember what we were told about how quickly the booster would take effect. I did some quick Googling (only checking one source, which isn't really sufficient here) and found a reference to 14 days, so I think it's possible that Greece wants to see a booster date at least 14 days before you land there. Not necessarily, but possibly. And you have to get past the airline first. How will it interpret that language?

I'd get the booster immediately for reasons of health. And I'd get a negative test, too, if that is a second valid way to get into the country.

Posted by
10 posts

Thanks everyone! Some countries have explicit rules about the booster but the "no time limits" phrase makes one think that the booster can be taken anytime.

Posted by
1600 posts

We are going to Greece in May so this question interests me, too. My husband and I got our booster shots in October 2021. So, based on the way I interpret the wording, there are no time limits AFTER you have received your booster. So this means my husband and I are all set; we don't have anything to worry about and don't need a negative Covid test, right? Just our CDC vaccination card. Just want to make sure I am interpreting this correctly.

I apologize for hijacking this post.
Thank you!

Posted by
10 posts

Yeah, I am sure you will be fine because you have more than 14 days since the booster but my situation is different.