Certain Un-Vaxxed Travelers Banned Until April 2023

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently announced that United States (U.S.) bound flights would continue to be required to verify their non-U.S. national passengers are 'fully vaccinated' against COVID-19.

The U.S. government's current air travel policy relies on vaccinations to advance safe air travel to the U.S.

Previously, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an Order on October 25, 2021, and amendments, providing instructions on implementing the U.S. travel policy.

Recently, Austin Gould, the TSA Acting Executive Assistant Administrator of Operations Support, signed Emergency Amendment (EA 1546-21-02B) confirming that from January 9, 2023, through to April 10, 2023, air carriers must require Covered Individuals have:

• Presented paper or digital documentation of Proof of Being Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19, consistent with the CDC Order and Technical Instructions, that includes personal identifiers that match the passenger's passport or other travel documents; or,
• Presented documentation proving that they are an Excepted Covered Individual under the Proclamation and the CDC Order, as further explained in the CDC Technical Instructions.

The CDC has defined a person qualifies as fully vaccinated on the 14th day after the vaccination series was completed.

So, for example, if your last dose were any time on October 1, then October 15 would be the first day you meet the 14-day requirement.

Furthermore, to clarify which vaccines are acceptable to the TSA, the CDC lists U.S. Food and Drug Administration-authorized/approved COVID-19 and other vaccines Listed by the World Health Organization.

For additional information on recommendations and requirements before and during travel to the U.S., visit the CDC's updated International Travel to and from the U.S.

And the CDC also published a Travel Assessment tool that enables air travelers to learn the requirements to board a flight to the U.S. during 2023.

Furthermore, when planning a trip abroad, the CDC publishes various travel advisories regarding disease outbreaks at this link.

For example, regarding polio outbreaks, the CDC reissued an Alert - Level 2, Practice Enhanced Precautions on January 3, 2023.

And the U.S. Department of State lists various travel advisories on this webpage.