Vaccine card and dates

Your son and you are good to go. But the ones who are NOT boosted are technically not in compliance, and potentially taking a big chance, unless they can produce proof of recovery, (which is not very well spelled out in the Italian regulations, and could be subject to (mis)interpretation).

Case in point, I am going to Italy in early April as well, had only the two original shots from almost a year ago, and recovered from a positive test in late December. I went online here and got a certificate proving I recovered, which is theoretically equivalent to having 2 shots plus the booster. So technically, that should suffice for the requirements to both enter the country and partake of all public accommodations (hotels, restaurants, transit, tours, etc.).

That was my original plan, assuming that the tight restrictions would be lifted at the end of March. But with the continuation of status quo through the end of April, and not wanting to take any chances (not worried about the virus per se, just worried about over-officious vaccine-card checkers denying me access even with proof of recent recovery), I got my booster yesterday.

I am now typing this through the aches and chills that the booster has caused, which I suppose is the price one has to pay for getting something that in my specific case is scientifically and medically unnecessary, but required to get the little sticker that ensures without a doubt that I'll be compliant with the current bureaucratic regulations (which will be lifted a week after I leave Italy, but are still in place now).

So if they can, I'd suggest the rest of your party get the booster immediately. That's the surest way to ensure compliance. If they're set against getting another shot, then at least get the doctor's note from MD Anywhere (it's $70 each) proving they've recovered recently. Not clear how widely accepted that proof will be, but it's better than trying to convince someone without that proof.

Since when is 6 months within the last shot not compliant? I have not read that anywhere and they are not getting the booster so that definitely doesn’t work. Can someone show me that the second shot less than 180 days is not okay? We will have our Covid recovery letters but again I have not read that what they have now is not sufficient.

My bad. 2 doses within 9 months may be OK, but I'm so confused at this point, maybe check with someone else.

These links might be helpful. Also, make sure you don't conflate the requirements to GET INTO Italy (not as stringent, 2 doses may be fine) with the more strict requirements for DOING THE STUFF YOU ACTUALLY WANT TO DO in Italy (the Super Green Pass, which definitely requires the booster, or take your chances with recovery letter).

https://infocovid.viaggiaresicuri.it/returningtoitaly.html

https://italygreenpass.com/info/

https://apply.joinsherpa.com/travel-restrictions/ITA?originCountry=USA&nationality=USA&departureDate=2022-04-09&returnDate=2022-04-23&tripType=roundTrip&transitType=noTransit&fullyVaccinated=true&language=en-US

Validity of the certificates

Vaccine certificate
Validity of the certificate to enter or reenter Italy from abroad
The vaccine certificate is valid up to 9 months from either the completion of the primary vaccine cycle (ether the first and only dose for the Janssen Pharmaceutical NV/ Johnson and Johnson or the second dose for all the others available vaccines) or the vaccine booster.
Validity of the certificate in order to use services that require a “reinforced” Green Pass.
The vaccine certificate is valid up to 6 months from the completion of the primary vaccine cycle (either the first and only dose for the Janssen Pharmaceutical NV/ Johnson and Johnson or the second dose for all the others approved vaccines). If however the carrier of the certificate has received a booster or has completed the primary vaccine cycle and he or she has recovered from COVID, the certificate validity is unlimited.
Concessions for foreign tourists.
The foreign traveler in Italy who has completed the primary vaccine cycle over 6 months ago or has recovered from COVID for over 6 months, can still access services and accommodation that requires a “reinforced” Green Pass, by having a negative antigen COVID test done within 48 hours or a molecular COVID test done within 72 hours. This concessions also apply to tourists who have received vaccines that are not recognized or approved in Italy. For further information on how to access services in Italy that require the use of either the “basic” or “reinforced” Green Pass, the readers can always refer to the Table in the section named “DISPOSIZIONI GENERALI” (General Provisions).
The certificate attesting the recovery from COVID is valid up to 6 months if the recovery happened without having completed the vaccine cycle.
The certificate attesting a negative COVID test is valid for up to 48 hours for antigen test and up to 72 hours for molecular tests from the time the test was administered

https://www.italia.it/en/covid19

Thanks again looks like they are still good for everything since they are still within 6 months of primary doses at least as far as I’m able to understand from the above. This has all been so stressful.

Your son and daughter COULD just get their boosters now
They are 5 months from their second shot and that is the CDC recommendation time frame for booster.
You’d all be safer.

We were advised to get booster at a later time since we just recovered from Covid.

We are going to Italy too in a few weeks, and I thought we had to get the Green Pass to enter sites, restaurants, etc. But if you are from the US, your COVID card issued from the CDC should suffice. My question is does a picture of the CDC card suffice? Could we use our NY Covid Digital pass that has visual evidence of our three shots?

Carry your original CDC card along with your passport
Whether the venue will accept your NY pass is questionable, some places might but just as many may not

Not sure if this is very helpful as requirements are constantly changing, but I was in Florence in October 2021. My CDC card was check while flying, but so quickly that I cannot believe anyone was checking dates. I only saw people denied boarding for not having a negative COVID test within the correct window of time (and that shouldn’t be necessary now)

As for museums and restaurants, my California digital registration QR code did not work. AT ALL. However, I used a phone photo often and it was fine. In fact, I think that’s all I used.

Hope that helps a bit.

I've been in Venice for the last 4 days. I have an Israeli green pass which is supposed to be accepted by Italy but their system can't read the QR code so a big red X comes up every time they scan it. I have a printed, laminated card with 3 shots, the third one was back in July 2021. 2 months ago I got a 4th shot and a new green pass which is on my phone.

I flew to Milano, took a bus to the train and a train to Venice. The train conductor was the first to ask for the pass. I whipped out the laminated copy, he scanned it and gave it back to me without comment. Next was at my B&B in Venice. She scanned the hard copy and the new pass on my phone. Both came up "red X" but since my passport number was on the pass, she said it was okay. She also told me I might have to show my passport to gain entry to sights so they could verify the passport number, name, etc on the pass.

The 3 sights I've been to asked for the pass. One refused me entry - as soon as he saw the red X he wouldn't budge. At the second one, he saw the hard copy had 3 shots and said it was okay. At the third one, I showed the pass on the phone and told him I had 4 shots. He wanted to know when the last one was. None asked for my passport. I think Americans who only have a CDC paper are more likely to be asked for a passport. Most restaurants also ask for the pass for indoor dining.

I hope it all works out for you. Italy is wonderful right now, lots of tourists, but not overwhelming.