Vaccines over 6 months old and travel to Italy.

Unfortunately this is a game with movable goal posts. What is required today may be very different than what is required next week. And no way to forecast. You may judge the restrictions as severe but we don't have much say as to what is or is not acceptable. If that is the stance of the Italy government, then that is what we have to live with. Sorry.

Curious about where this article is?
That’s the first time I’ve read a “9 month” requirement

The entry/ vax requirements now are valid thru Jan 31. They will likely change.

There are several threads here on this forum discussing the booster topic.
Scroll down

ChristineH,

Here it is

https://nypost.com/2022/01/21/john-malkovich-turned-down-at-italian-hotel-over-invalid-vax-pass/

Here is another article which seems to corroborate the above. It states, “In Italy, a valid vaccination pass, which is obtained at the end of a complete vaccination cycle or post-COVID recovery in the previous six months, is essential to access hotels and restaurants as well as public transport.”

https://www.euronews.com/culture/2022/01/20/john-malkovich-us-actor-denied-access-to-italian-hotel-due-to-expired-covid-pass

This is not brand new news. Here is a copy of what I posted on another thread about this:

This new rule is found in this official document on Green Passes, only available in Italian:

https://www.dgc.gov.it/web/faq.html#gpr
Look under Green Pass and scroll down to open “In quanto tempo viene generata e per quanta tempo è valida >La Certificazione?”
Then scroll to the bottom under “Attenzione” and see the last bullet point. The relevant portion clearly states,
“Dal 1st febbraio 2022 la durata del green pass vaccinate e del green pass da guargione post vaccionzione >sarà ulteriormente ridotta da 9 a 6 mesi”.
These last words, beginning with “ridotta” are bolded in the document, along with the date of February 1.

Here is the link to the FAQ section I quoted, from the official Italian document on Green Passes:

https://www.dgc.gov.it/web/faq.html#revoche

The relevant language says, in rough translation, that from Feb. 1 2022 the duration of the green pass for vaccination . . . will be reduced from 9 to 6 months. (I left out the part about the “post recovery” green pass, which is not relevant to vaccination questions.).

Here is the link to the whole thread, which is in the “covid10 and travel” forum:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/covid19/boosters-and-6-month-requirements

Thanks. I ran it through my translation app since my Italian is t what it use to be 😂

Attention

Since December 15, 2021, the duration of the validity of the COVID-19 Green Certification from vaccination has increased from 12 to 9 months. The Verification App automatically applies the new validity criteria simply by reading the QR Code, which does not change, even if the certification still says "Certification valid for 12 months". If you would like to have the green pass indicating the new deadline, you will need to redownload it using the same AUTHCODE you received, when you completed your vaccination course, by email or SMS to the addresses you communicated.

From February 1, 2022, the duration of the vaccination green pass and post-vaccination healing green pass will be further reduced from 9 to 6 months.

Thanks OP
get your info from official govt sources
As Lola has posted, this is not “ news”

I suspect there will be changes to the requirement again, and I suspect we’ll have some new booster guidance in a month or 2

the duration of the validity of the COVID-19 Green Certification from vaccination has increased from 12 to 9 months

Only in Italy would going from 12 to 9 be an "increase." LOL

The current policies are in effect only until March 31, 2022 - unless changed sooner.

This topic is very pertinent. And it is more pertinent for the Europe countries than it is for the individual traveler. Looks like they are boxing themselves into a dead tourist season for 2022 under these present rules. They have to decide if that is an acceptable outcome.

Rcf026, your translation app made a mistake.

In Italian it says “la durata della Certificazione verde COVID-19 da vaccinations è passata da 12 a 9 mesi.” That “è passata” does not mean “increased”. It is close to English “passed by”, as in gone, passed from, decreased. Which is the only way it makes sense, in context.

It’s not perfect, but it does the job better than I ever could!

Anyway Lola and others, unless I am missing something at the end of the day starting Feb. 1, and until further notice, Italy is out of bounds for travelers who have not received a vaccine dose in under 6 months. Since I received my booster in late September that means starting in April I can’t go to Italy. I’m sure they are aware that they are foreclosing millions of fully vaccinated and boosted people from going there, and they must have their reasons, but it doesn’t seem to… as they say… follow the science.
With every country in Europe going in a different direction the EU is going to have to coordinate a common policy for what is in essence a conglomerate of borderless countries.

Ok here's a complicated question - To enter France, you just need the two vaccines and a booster. The six-month rule apparently does not apply (or expire) as long as you had the booster - this is according to posters in the France Forum (those living in France), and my French Consulate here. Say you get the Pass Santaire in France, then go to Italy. If you get in Italy with the Pass Sanitaire, doesn't Italy uphold the six months requirements after the booster? So if you went to a restaurant and showed your French pass, how does a restaurant or museum in Rome know your booster period expired? Not sure I am explaining this correctly, so hope someone can follow it! Thanks - we too are wondering how this will work since our booster times out in February and we have a trip planned in April. France says it's ok, just as long as you had the booster. Italy says the booster is only good for six months? I know that things change quickly and no one has a crystal ball, but if the trip were today, and the booster timeline had expired, Italy would be off the table? We posed the same question in France forum as well. So confused on all these requirements!

OP, I have the same issue. Ours expire in March, trip planned for May. We are all anxiously awaiting for April 1, to hopefully see restrictions change. I agree with you that at this point it seems severe. Omicron is very contagious, but with vaccines and boosters, the risk is low. I think they need to just open up the country without restrictions or close it. I took the whole covid issue very seriously, but we DO have a solution with the vaccine. Those who choose not to vaccinate, well then, that’s their problem.

Actually, it is not clear that the so-called “6 month rule” will keep people from entering Italy. The requirements for entry are in this document ( set to the List D which is applicable to people coming from the US and Canada, and a few other named countries):

https://www.salute.gov.it/portale/nuovocoronavirus/dettaglioContenutiNuovoCoronavirus.jsp?lingua=italiano&id=5412&area=nuovoCoronavirus&menu=vuoto&tab=4

There is nothing in that document referring to an expiration date for vaccination or boosters. Maybe it is implied from the reference to the Green Pass or its US equivalent ( the CDC card), but who knows. If not, then people may be able to enter, but they cannot take advantage of the benefits offered by the Super Green Pass—going into restaurants, bars, museums, hotels, etc., and using the fast trains. That is probably an effective deterrent to most of us who want to visit Italy, but not to all.

Article in Corriere della Sera today reporting the 3rd dose validity will be extended, barring a change from the EU on the need for a 4th shot.
https://www.corriere.it/cronache/22_gennaio_23/green-pass-durata-scadenza-terza-dose-0f080cc8-7c63-11ec-8a2d-4c61d1a6b1fa.shtml

Lulu, I have been trying to make sense of the policy and I thought maybe they were lagging behind in vaccinations so they don’t want tens of thousands of vaccinated but potentially asymptomatic contagious tourists among their population. However, a quick google revealed that in Italy over 83% have taken one dose, over 76% two doses, and over 50% have taken a booster. Those numbers are actually higher than the numbers in the United States. Given this, I can’t really fathom why they would limit their tourist industry so severely after having taken such a major economic hit over the past eighteen months. Particularly in light of the fact that by all reports Omicron does not pose the risk that the other variants posed. It would be interesting to find their rationale for this move.

These rules ( which are not just for travelers TO Italy, but for Italian citizens and residents) will change, otherwise there will be lots and lots of Italian citizens/ residents unable to get to work, enter a store or restaurant, visit a museum, etc as THEIR boosters will have also aged out at 6 months.

I suspect it’s their way of getting everybody boosted as soon as possible.

Be patient, stay informed

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/covid19/vaccine-validity-please-stop-freaking-out

Christine, I realize that the rules apply to all, and that they may, and probably will change. However, I don’t know about you, but for me planning such a trip is not an overnight proposition. I often plan them months in advance and sadly I can’t take the chance that things might change. Europe is going to come out of this soon but the volatility of the situation at present doesn’t lend itself to long-term planning.

Thanks Mike

Here is the translation:

From 1 February 2022, the strengthened green pass will last for six months, but for many the deadline is approaching: most likely action will be taken to make it valid without limits, except for new assessments by AIFA and EMA on the fourth dose
The government will extend the validity of the green pass for those who have received three doses of the vaccine. The decree in force provides that from 1 February the green certification is valid for six months, but for many the expiration date is close and there is no authorization for the administration of the fourth dose. That is why the government is considering making it valid until decisions are made on a possible new recall.
Deadline in March
Doing the calculations on the third doses it emerges that at least 100 thousand green passes will lose their validity in early March and therefore in the next two weeks we will have to proceed with the extension since these people would be forced to swab to work, but also for all the others. activities of daily living.
Opinion to the Cts
In the next few days, the Technical Scientific Committee will be asked for an opinion for information and the most likely hypothesis is that no deadline will be set for those who have completed the cycle.

However, I don’t know about you, but for me planning such a trip is
not an overnight proposition. I often plan them months in advance and
sadly I can’t take the chance that things might change.

I do understand your frustration, absolutely. I've planned, booked and canceled 3 trips since the pandemic began.
Traveling and travel planning in COVID times is not for the faint of heart.
No one knows what will be happening with this next week much less in a a few months. Will another variant surface that is worse than Delta or Omicron? Will all travel shut down again? nobody knows.

All I can say is as above- be patient and stay on top of things. Some here have forged ahead and taken their trips, others have chosen to wait it out til 2023. Only you know what will work for you.

We fully intend to be there 4/23-5/13- luckily we held off a bit on our boosters and got them in November so we will be covered even if they keep a 6 month rule. I am sorry for those that are still in limbo with this whole thing, but it is what it is.

Christine, you do not have to understand it. Simply respect it. We each have our opinions and as they say, to each his own.

Christine, I typo. Sorry. I meant you don’t have to understand it to sympathize which I know you do. I get your point and patience is definitely a virtue in these tough times. Be well. See you out there.

Today's Bologna newspaper mentioned that the Italians that received the third booster in mid September will be timing out mid March. There is to be discussion on this hopefully soon. Tourists were also mentioned but for those of us living here this is not just a tourism issue.

Hi Everyone,
Here is a link to "The Local - Italy's News in English" where there is good information on this topic. I am not a paid subscriber but was able to access it as I think they give you a few free looks. I have also copied and pasted a portion of it below in case you are unable to access the link. I felt cautiously optimistic after reading it. See what you think!

https://www.thelocal.it/20220124/italy-reconsiders-cut-to-covid-vaccine-pass-validity-for-triple-jabbed/

Italy will slash the validity of its vaccine pass from nine to six months from February 1st, but the cut may not apply to those who have already had a booster amid concerns about the impact on tourism.
Proof of vaccination issued based on jabs administered more than six months ago will no longer be seen as valid under Italy’s Covid ‘green pass’ scheme from February 1st, under a change of rules announced at the end of December.

But the government is now reconsidering whether to apply the cut to vaccination certificates issued based on third or booster doses, amid widespread concern about how the rule change will impact those who had their booster earlier – particularly in the US or other countries which began administering third doses before Italy.

The rethink comes after regional authorities in Italy said the validity cut would have repercussions for the tourism industry, news agency Ansa reports on Monday.

The government’s move to cut validity is intended to push more people in Italy to get their third or booster jabs within six months after completion of the initial vaccination cycle.

But it has caused widespread concern among those who were boosted early, as fourth doses are not available and Italy’s vaccine pass (referred to as a ‘super’ or ‘reinforced’ green pass) is required for access to everything from hotels and restaurants to public transport across the county.

Like a previous cut to the validity of vaccine passes (from 12 to nine months), it appears that that upcoming changes will apply equally to foreign and Italian vaccination certificates, and to new certificates as well as those issued before February 1st.

joeandrose
That confirms what is posted/translated above
Thanks

OP
Not at all sure what your meaning is but as I stated I absolutely DO understand and I empathize with you
As does everyone here on this forum who has been planning travel during these uncertain times

JoeandRose, thank you for copying that. It provides hope! I had a friend who told me today that the UK is pulling back restrictions. Seems to me that if Italy tourism wants to be competitive they will, too. The mask outside restriction is also a game changer for my family. None of us want to go if we have to wear masks outside.

Glad that others viewed the article in "The Local" similarly. I so want to believe that the Italian authorities will reconsider the ramifications of all of this as it will affect BOTH Italians and tourists.

At this point, I am so longing to make it to Italy that I'd be willing to take a jab every day if it would get me to the Uffizi this May! LOL!

Frankly i get that they want people boosted - so why not mandate for that - your 2 or 1 dose vaccine pass expires after 6 months unless you have a booster which then is valid until/if we need to bring in another shot!

We're currently delaying our boosters to see how this plays out. Its not entirely the Italians fault - the wording comes from the EU

However, a quick google revealed that in Italy over 83% have taken one dose, over 76% two doses, and over 50% have taken a booster. Those numbers are actually higher than the numbers in the United States.

Those figures are close to useless with Omicron - we expect it to rage through NZ and we have a 93% 2 dose vaccine rates for the over 12's