Post- Vaccination Travel
As more and more people have been getting a COVID-19 vaccine, the biggest topic right now is what that means for travel. You may have seen talk about a "vaccine passport" or apps that you can use to show proof of vaccination. You may also have seen people comparing the idea of a vaccine passport to "showing your papers" and it goes without saying, but that is an insanely offensive and horrible comparison to make. If you're a traveler, especially someone who travels internationally, then you know that such a document already exists! I have had to show my yellow vaccination card in several countries I have visited to prove I have had the required immunizations to enter their country. This is nothing new. But aside from that, what does travel look like in a post-vaccination world? Let's dive into what we can expect, even if you're vaccinated.
Proof of Vaccination
Last week the Biden Administration announced that there would not be any type of vaccine passport required for domestic travel. However, that could change. As of this week, state officials in Hawaii have announced that they are moving toward issuing some type of vaccination passport to travel in and out of Hawaii. It would make sense for a state like Hawaii given its size and isolation. For now though, domestic travel within mainland US will not require any vaccination proof.
International travel is most likely a very different story. For the past year, those countries which have allowed tourists to visit have had very strict entry requirements. Almost all countries that have allowed visitors since the pandemic started have required a negative PCR test prior to entry (or upon arrival) and many have had quarantine requirements for a short amount of time (some places up to 14 days). Moving forward, as more and more of the world vaccinates, it is reasonable to think that countries will require visitors to provide proof of vaccination in order to enter. And why that may seem extreme to some, it actually isn't anything new in the world of travel. Long before the current pandemic, many countries around the world have required proof of immunization to enter. From the logistical standpoint, it will probably be much easier and more efficient to allow people who are fully vaccinated to enter instead of having to test everyone and quarantine people. Still, because the vaccines are not 100% effective at preventing disease, there will probably still be some measures taken (temperature readings, questionnaires, etc.).
The question will be what is required in order to show proof. As of now, in the United States, everyone who receives a COVID-19 vaccine receives a white card from the CDC which indicates your vaccine manufacturer, lot/batch number, and the dates administered. The problem with these cards is everyone gets the same card, so there is no unique number or marking on the cards. Which, sadly, means that people are already trying to sell blank versions, duplicate them, or other means to forge the record. It is truly disgusting to think that people would forge a vaccination record, but if this past year has taught us anything its that there are some pretty selfish people in this country who don't care about others. Hopefully those people aren't forging this document in order to travel, but if they convincingly forge the document, it will be hard for other countries to know.
The card you get from the vaccination site is paper, which means that you risk damaging the card. Without knowing the full scale of where and how the card will be used in the future, it is a good idea to protect the card. Luckily, stores like Staples, Office Depot, and Office Max are stepping in to help. These three stores have announced that they will laminate your vaccine card for free! Office Depot is providing this service through July 25, 2021, but you must bring a coupon to be eligible. You can print the coupon here. It is also a good idea to make a photocopy of the card and keep it somewhere safe just in case you lose it!
(yes this image is blurry, but that's on purpose so no one can use it to forge!)
In addition to the CDC issued card, if you have the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis, better known at the WHO Yellow Card, take that with you to your vaccine appointment. I took mine when I got my first dose and asked the nurse to fill it out in addition to the CDC card. While the first person I asked did not know what it was, luckily someone else working at the vaccination site was familiar with the Yellow Card and gladly filled it out. The CDC card might only go so far, whereas the Yellow Card is more widely recognized around the world since it's an official WHO document. Better to have both so that you're covered. Sadly though you can't laminate it since it is more of a booklet than a single page card.
Why You Should Get The Vaccine
I am not a doctor and I am not here to tell you what you should or shouldn't do. However, since this blog is a travel blog aimed at discussing travel and all that travel entails, being vaccinated is most likely going to be a requirement. If not for every country, it will definitely be required for some. I am someone who believes in science and appreciates all of the amazing medical advancements the scientific community has made over my lifetime. I do not know anyone with polio or smallpox or measles (or....the list goes on) and that is because of one thing: vaccines! I also know that if I want to travel to certain parts of the world, immunizations are a requirement. Before traveling to Africa in 2010, I was required to get a yellow fever vaccine. It wasn't something I put much thought into as I knew that not only was it required to enter the countries we were visiting, but that it is a vaccine that has been given to millions of people around the world. I got the vaccine and had an amazing trip, no worries at all!
If you love to travel and have been missing the ability to travel this past year, knowing that the opportunity to travel again is so close is exciting! However, it very well may be that being vaccinated will be part of said travel. Regardless of your personal beliefs or feelings about vaccines, when you go to another country that has a requirement, they won't care what you believe. If you want to enter, you have to follow the rules. In the same way that showing your passport at Customs is a requirement, it is very plausible that along with that you will have to show proof of vaccination. When the entire world has suffered as much as we have this past year, the majority of people will view vaccination as the key to getting us back to normal (or our new normal). Be prepared that being vaccinated against COVID-19 very well may be required around the world, regardless of whether you want it or not.
And yes, vaccines can be scary. The unknown is always a scary thing, but I would argue the unknowns of COVID-19 far outweigh the fear of getting a vaccine. COVID-19 is an unpredictable virus and while the mortality rate may be low, there is absolutely zero guarantee that if you get it you will have a mild case. There is no rhyme or reason as to why some people who are healthy and have no underlying health conditions have died or suffered horribly, while others are asymptomatic. But one thing we do know is that vaccines have been proven to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death!
Don't Let Your Guard Down
It goes without saying, but just because you get vaccinated doesn't mean you can just go back to normal and throw all caution to the wind. While the vaccines are very effective, they aren't 100% effective, so that means unfortunately there are still the rare cases where people who have been vaccinated still get the virus. Luckily though, even those that have gotten COVID after being vaccinated, their cases have been very mild. But even if mild, you could still pass the virus on to someone who is not vaccinated or is immunocompromised.
All this means that traveling in a post-vaccine world will probably still mean mask wearing and social distancing. Airlines, hotels, ground transportation, tours, etc. will most likely continue to require masks or face coverings well into 2022. It will be part of everyday life for some time in crowded, indoor spaces for the foreseeable future. Just be prepared that as you travel again, even once vaccinated, there will still be safety precautions you must follow.
We have all been in this together for over a year and while we all have lockdown fatigue, we can at least finally see light at the end of the tunnel. If we stay strong and continue to do our part, and get vaccinated, we will be traveling the world again soon!
Bon voyage and stay healthy!!!
