BRUSSELS. In the latest attempt by the 27-nation bloc to stem the recent spike of infections across the continent, the European Commission suggested Thursday that member countries impose stricter travel restrictions on persons who have not been vaccinated.
The commission’s health licensing body also authorized vaccinations for children as young as five years old, a significant step that might help Europe increase immunization rates at a time when the virus is causing more cases and fatalities. Unvaccinated children under the age of six were exempt from the commission’s travel recommendations.
The right to travel freely between European Union countries is a basic pillar of the union, and the commission’s recent measures aim to find a balance between preserving that freedom and enacting limitations that may curb the virus’ spread.
According to the suggestions, anyone who have a European Union covid certificate – which implies they have been completely vaccinated, have confirmation of recovery, or have recently tested negative – should not face any travel restrictions. When visiting a nation in the bloc, everyone else should be quarantined or screened.
Travelers entering the bloc should not be deemed vaccinated if their doses were given more than nine months ago and they have not yet gotten a booster, according to the commission.
Source: bostonglobe.com
