The Biden administration has announced that under-18’s and those from countries with a shortage of vaccines will be exempt from new rules that will require most travellers to the United States be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Airlines will be required to collect contact information on passengers regardless of whether they have been vaccinated or not to help with contact tracing.
Beginning November 8, international travellers hoping to jet off the the US will need to be fully vaccinated and all travellers will need to be tested before boarding a plane.
Those under the age of 18 will not be required to be fully vaccinated, however they will still need to take a COVID-19 test unless they are aged 2 or younger.
Others who will be exempt from the vaccination requirement include people who participated in COVID-19 clinical trials, who had severe allergic reactions to the vaccines, or are from a country where the jabs are not yet widely available.
The US has confirmed that it will accept any vaccine approved for regular or emergency use by the S Food and Drug Administration or the World Health Organisation. That includes Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca and China’s Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines. Mixing-and-matching of approved shots will be permitted.
