Travel in Europe and the in invasion of the Ukraine

If its not safe there, where do think it will be safe?

Joe asks a good question. No one knows what lies in store, or what your peace-of-mind threshold is, but if this were my trip I'd certainly go ahead. Travel to Russia or Ukraine would be foolish even if it were possible, travel to Poland or Finland or the Baltics or Romania might give one pause. But no risk with travel to western Europe that wouldn't apply to staying at home. Steady as you go, Skipper!

Well … Switzerland may make the decision for us since they consider our boosters ‘expired’ so won’t be able to enter.

Right about ‘things may change’ for both situations…. Would not hesitate to travel to Western Europe if we could.

Now that Switzerland has ended its restrictions of pre-testing, mid-week testing, and an entry pass, I am leaving for Switzerland next week, and never thought that my trip would be impacted by the war. My only concern is having to take a covid test to return to the US. I don't like having that hanging over my head. If we don't need to test to enter another country, why do we need to test to return to our own? (Rhetorical question).

Chris, what do you mean by boosters expired in Switzerland? Can you direct me to a good website about this? We are not spending any time in Switzerland, but in May we are changing planes in Zurich to continue on to Greece. We had our boosters in October 2021. Are we affected by whatever the rule is even though we are only transiting in Switzerland?
Thank you.

Thanks for the reply, my wife and daughter are concerned and I appreciate the vote of confidence!

I think you will be okay with your boosters … ours were 0ctober 2nd and 15th…. We travel July 1-15 …. Our boosters will not be within 270 days of arrival so can not enter & 4th shot is not recommended yet

Is the validity of the certificate extended after the booster vaccination?
Answer

No. You receive a new certificate for the booster, which is valid for 270 days from the date of the booster vaccination.

https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home/krankheiten/ausbrueche-epidemien-pandemien/aktuelle-ausbrueche-epidemien/novel-cov/haeufig-gestellte-fragen.html?faq-url=/covid/en/vaccination/booster/validity-certificate-extended-after-booster-vaccination

https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home/krankheiten/ausbrueche-epidemien-pandemien/aktuelle-ausbrueche-epidemien/novel-cov/empfehlungen-fuer-reisende/quarantaene-einreisende.html

If this is the official Swiss site, it appears one is considered fully 'vaccinated' for only the 270 days after the last shot.

"Partially vaccinated" are not allowed in as tourists--https://travelcheck.admin.ch/check

Unless the Swiss redefine 'vaccinated' , or extend the 270 day rule, tourist travel looks to have some challenges if one is past 270 days of their most recent shot

THESKIPPER It really is an important question. Putin by any definition is a mad man. But I am not certain if you would be at any greater risk in Switzerland or France than you would be in the US. Maybe less if he is the mad man I think he is. I will be in Hungary in a few weeks and am no more worried about that than being at USA ground zero. Its a new world.

Just checked our vaccination cards, and our boosters were on October 22, 2021. So we are safe to transit through Switzerland in May. Chris, I hope Switzerland's rule will change by the time you travel. The Covid situation is improving, and it's usually better during the summer months.
Good luck!

Instead of asking others if it is safe, you might ask yourselves if you are really going to enjoy the trip under these circumstances. We are so saddened and disgusted by what is going on that we decided it is not time for business as usual, and canceled the Italy trip that was to begin next week. Fortunately nearly all of the expense is fully refundable. We took some of what we saved by not going on the trip and sent it to a respected refugee relief organization. I have slept much better since.

Lola, I know that was not an easy decision to make. I am sorry….. What a wonderful use for your trip funds. 💕

Joe…. I emailed sem.ch and gave them all of our vaccine dates: the first 2 primary doses which were completed February 2021…. So those are already past the ‘within the 270 day’ validity period.

I also included our booster dates which were October 2 & October 15 2021.

By the time of our entry July 1, my travel companion’s booster validity expires June 29 and my booster validity expires July 12… our tour is July 3-14.

This comes from the minister of migration in Switzerland:

According to the actual restrictions, US citizens can enter (from the USA, which is considered to be a high-risk country) for tourism purposes only if vaccinated with an authorised vaccine (like Moderna).

The vaccine must have been administered in full within the past 270 days. Proof of vaccination may take the form of a COVID-19 certificate. If the certificate has not yet been introduced, vaccination must be proven by another suitable document. This must contain the following information
§ Surname, first name(s)
§ Date of birth
§ Date of vaccination,
§ Vaccine used

In your case, you’re considered vaccinated until the 29th of June 2022 (traveller 1) or 12 July 2022 (traveller 2).

Unfortunately, at the date of the entry to Switzerland (according to the actual rules), traveller 1 would no more be considered as vaccinated. Entry would not be allowed.

Please note that entry rules may be adapted by the Swiss government depending on the development of the pandemic in these countries. We therefore recommend that you regularly check our website for new developments.

Best regards,

COVID-19 Helpline / Cas
Federal Department of Justice and Police FDJP
State Secretariat for Migration SEM
Immigration and Integration Directorate

Quellenweg 6, CH-3003 Bern-Wabern
Tel. +41 (0)58 465 77 60
corona@sem.admin.ch

Sent from my iPad

I'm in my late 70's and this is actually our third attempt to make this trip, the previous two were postponed due to Covid. Now we have this situation; maybe somebody up there is trying to tell us something! The big problem that I have now, even if we go, is enjoying our "Bucket List" trip knowing all the suffering that is going on in the Ukraine at the hands of the Russians!