Just a few days after this last post, we finally have some good news in regards to wholly outdated US policy regarding Covid vaccinations – the US will shortly no longer require vaccinations for foreign travelers.
The US Will End Covid Vaccination Requirement for International Travelers
I won’t lay into it anymore since I just recently did so (again – for like the third time!) but this is good news for many who had chosen to not get the Covid vaccines and had been looking forward to visiting the US. This is not just applying to tourists but family members of US citizens/residents as well.
Here was the announcement regarding this change from yesterday evening (May 1, 2023):
Today, we are announcing that the Administration will end the COVID-19 vaccine requirements for Federal employees, Federal contractors, and international air travelers at the end of the day on May 11, the same day that the COVID-19 public health emergency ends. Additionally, HHS and DHS announced today that they will start the process to end their vaccination requirements for Head Start educators, CMS-certified healthcare facilities, and certain noncitizens at the land border. In the coming days, further details related to ending these requirements will be provided.
So, the magic day is end of day, May 11. From that point on, a covid vaccination certificate will not be required to enter the US. It will also drop the requirement for federal employees and contractors from that date as well.
I am curious how many people this will affect. I personally know of a few people who have been awaiting this day so I am glad, for them, that this will no longer be a barrier to their entry to the US.
So, at long last, this requirement is being dropped, a requirement that should never have existed in place this long anyway. But, at least it is going away now.
