The European Commission has proposed to EU member states an update to the rules governing free movement of persons within the EU, including making COVID-19 vaccination certificates valid for 9 months vs. the current 12 months.

The EC said in its proposal:

“The nine-month period takes into account the guidance of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) on the administration of booster doses as of six months, and provides for an additional period of three months to ensure that national vaccination campaigns can adjust and citizens can have access to boosters.”

Under this rule change, EU member states would accept vaccination certificates issued in the past 9 months but not those issued earlier.

Austria has already made certificates valid for only 9 months.

Certificates would be issued after administration of each dose of COVID-19, with a third (booster) shot coded as "3/3".

The EC encourages member states to take steps to ensure that persons whose certificates are approaching expiration date have access to vaccination.

But is that doable in time for persons who were vaccinated in March 2021 or earlier to be able to renew their certificates and keep traveling?

Stay tuned.