Ukraine may reduce validity of COVID-certificates following EU

Following the European Union’s member states, Ukraine may shorten the validity of COVID certificates for its citizens.

That’s according to Deputy Minister of Health Maria Karchevych, who commented on the issue for Ukrinform.

“For the last two to three weeks, there has been an active discussion that the European Commission is preparing a move to reduce the validity of COVID certificates. In particular, the decision is expected to be passed on January 10 next year. Accordingly, we are also observing these developments, and today we had a meeting with European experts and are waiting for an official decision from the EU, and further in the same way we plan to implement the decision in Ukraine. It should be considered by the National Technical Group of Experts on Immunization before being approved at a staff meeting on vaccine-controlled infections at the Ministry of Health  and being accordingly regulated by government decree," said Karchevych.

Speaking of how this may affect citizens who have already obtained digital certificates generated after a full vaccination course, the deputy minister noted the following:

"If we talk about reducing the validity from 365 days to 270, then for people who will be traveling to the EU holding such a certificate, they will remain valid, but within the expiration date, which will be determined at the EU level," said Karchevych.

She added that if the term of a COVID certificate obtained after the second dose has been administered is more than 270 days, a person will be able to cross into the EU within the validity limits set by each individual member state.

"The trust network is a network that covers EU countries, and most countries are guided by the decisions of the European Commission and pass precisely such decisions at the national level. If there is a condition of entry with a validity period of 270 days and if a certificate has gone beyond that period, its holder will not be able to enter the territory of this country holding that COVID certificate," said Karchevych.

Also, according to the Deputy Minister, on January 10 the European Commission plans to consider a booster dose of the vaccine against COVID-19.

As Ukrinform reported, the Ministry of Health has announced that the European Commission would consider on January 10, 2022, the issue of reducing the validity of COVID certificates from 365 days to 270 days.

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