BRUSSELS: The digital Covid-19 certificate issued by the European Union (EU) will only be valid for nine months, according to the European Commission. The Commission announced that it had introduced a nine-month (270-day) binding acceptance period for immunization certificates for travel inside the EU. The policy will be implemented on February 1st.

The Commission stated, "A clear and standard acceptance period for immunization certificates will ensure that travel precautions continue to be coordinated." Within the EU, 807 million certificates have been issued so far. Meanwhile, the Commission claims that 60 countries and territories on five continents have adopted a similar approach.

The EU digital Covid certificate has a nine-month validity period since the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control recommends that booster doses be administered at least six months after the first vaccination cycle is completed.

A three-month grace period has been extended to allow national immunization efforts to adjust and citizens to get booster shots. The 270 days for a single-dose vaccine begin with the first and only shot. In the case of a two-dose vaccine, the 270 days begin after the second shot, or, if the member state's policy allows, after the first and only shot after the virus has been recovered. Didier Reynders, the European Commissioner for Justice, said it was now up to member states to make sure boosters are "rolled out quickly to protect our health and ensure safe travel."

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