Inform Yourself Before Travel, What Vaccines Against COVID-19 Do Countries Allow?

It has been almost a year and a half since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the pandemic. In this time, more than 200 million infections have been reported in the world and around 4.3 million deaths.

As for the vaccination, it has been almost 9 months since it started. According to data from Our World in Data, there is currently a rate of 39 million applied doses per day. According to this portal, more than 5.2 billion doses have been applied, while 2.1 billion people are fully vaccinated, that is, around 27% of the global population.

Vaccination worldwide is already a true reflection of the problem of poverty and difficult access to resources. The countries Gibraltar, Malta, Pitcairn Islands, Iceland, Cayman Islands, and the United Arab Emirates, report the best vaccination rates. All of them have managed to fully vaccinate more than 70% of their population. On the other hand, countries such as South Sudan, Vanuatu, Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Haiti, present incipient vaccination attempts and do not exceed 1% of the population completely vaccinated.

In the case of Latin America, the best situations are in Uruguay and Chile. In these countries, 67% and 66% of the population have been fully vaccinated, respectively. Regarding the most difficult scenarios, apart from the aforementioned Haiti, Guatemala has 2.17%, Venezuela 3.87%, and Paraguay with 4.02% of the population fully vaccinated.

The variety of vaccines purchased has generated an intense debate worldwide. Governments and health organizations have raised their positions on the vaccines allowed in their territories, in a debate that has transcended the medical field and has also had political and economic overtones. That is why we want to show you which vaccines are currently being allowed in the world:

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USA

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the US government agency charged with regulating food products, has established its position. Currently, 3 vaccines are licensed in that country: Pfizer, Moderna, and Janssen. In addition, it has marked as valid the vaccines that the World Health Organization (WHO), has left on its emergency list, such as Sinovac, Sinopharm, and AstraZeneca.

However, if an attempt is made to enter the United States with an unapproved vaccine, the person may be immunized with a permitted one. Quarantine or confinement measures are not contemplated since vaccines are being applied directly at airports at a very good rate. In fact, the vaccination of travelers has been encouraged, which has even allowed the emergence of the new “vaccine tourism”.

Canada

Canada has restrictions similar to those in the United States, currently, Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Janssen vaccines are allowed. Covaxin, Convidecia, Sputnik V, Sinopharm, Sinovac, and others not specified are not yet allowed.

European Union

The European Medicines Agency (EMA), the entity in charge of evaluating medicines in the European Union, has also issued its judgment. Currently, Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Janssen are allowed to trade. Under review are Novavax, CureVac AG, Sputnik V, and Vero Cell. Additionally, not all accepted vaccine preparations are allowed, for example, the Modern vaccine is prepared in Europe, but the one that is prepared in India is not.

However, the organization has recognized that EU countries can make their own determinations regarding the vaccines they allow in their territories. That is why it is important to identify which country you are traveling to and to know whether or not that country accepts your vaccine. On the other hand, taking into account the departure of the United Kingdom from the EU, regardless of the vaccine, to enter there the authorities require a negative covid test and quarantine. For its part, Spain also requires the presentation of the certificate of a recent negative test.

For example, to travel to Spain, it is allowed to enter when the administration of a vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency or those that have completed the WHO emergency use process has been completed. Otherwise, you will need to have a negative PCR or Antigen test. While when arriving in Germany from a country on the red list of infections, it must remain in quarantine for 14 days without exception.

Australia

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), the Australian government's health products agency currently supports only two vaccines: Pfizer and AstraZeneca. However, the Australian Government allows you to enter the country with a vaccine approved by the FDA or WHO. After arriving, you will only have to do monitoring of your health and a test of 3 to 5 days after arrival.

If you are not vaccinated or do not have a vaccine not approved by health organizations, you must perform a test 1 to 3 days before the trip. In addition to quarantine for 7 to 10 days after arrival.

However, if you still have doubts about whether your vaccine allows you to travel freely and enter a specific country, I recommend that you use this tool.