Mar 28, 2023 • 3 min read
The US will accept travelers with FDA- and WHO-approved vaccines
Oct 13, 2021 • 2 min read
Those fully inoculated with one of six World Health Organization–approved vaccines will be allowed to enter the country ©Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images
When US borders reopen to international visitors in November, travelers will be required to show proof of full vaccination with one of the drugs approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) or the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The new rules for accepted vaccines for travel have been confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), according to Reuters. In the US, three vaccines—Pfizer/BioNtech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson—have been approved for emergency use, while WHO has approved AstraZeneca/Oxford, Sinopharm, and Sinovac as well. While not currently used in the US, the WHO-approved vaccines are widely used in other countries, opening up US-bound travel to more of the world.
“Earlier this week, to help them prepare their systems, we informed airlines that the vaccines that are FDA authorized/approved or listed for emergency use by WHO will meet the criteria for travel to the US,” CDC spokesperson Caitlin Shockey told USA Today.
Currently, travelers who have been in the UK, European Schengen Zone, Republic of Ireland, China, Iran, Brazil, South Africa and India within the past 14 days are barred from the US, minus a few exceptions. The new edict will allow almost all international travelers to enter, provided they meet the vaccine requirements.
At this point, it’s unclear whether or not vaccines missing from that list will be accepted, as further guidance from the CDC still forthcoming. But per CNN’s reporting in September, all vaccinated air travelers entering the US will need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of departure and a PCR or rapid test upon arrival. They will also be required to mask up en route and participate in contact tracing when they disembark.
Rules for exceptions have not yet been set, but the US government’s current requirements state that all air passengers ages 2 and up must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 for travel into the country, including citizens and permanent residents.
You may also like:
What you need to know about traveling to the US when restrictions are lifted from November
Going to California? LA joins San Francisco in introducing strict vaccine mandate for locals and visitors
What to know about trips to Hawaii as COVID-19 emergency order is extended through November
Explore related stories
Art and Culture
Visiting Malta? Here’s what to know, how to drive, where to eat and moreSep 2, 2024 • 6 min read
- Destination Practicalities🌍 Help me, LP! How do I plan a trip to China now that international travel is back?Public TransportThe 7 best day trips from Zürich for thermal spas, medieval cities and Alpine peaks
Dec 11, 2024 • 5 min read
Destination PracticalitiesHow to get your cell phone connected in Egypt: eSIMs, wi-fi and mobile networksDec 11, 2024 • 7 min read
- Tips & AdviceTenerife or Gran Canaria: Deciding which Canary Island outpost is best for you
Dec 11, 2024 • 8 min read