All The Details About the Approved Vaccinations for Covid-19 in Italy, France, Germany, and Spain
The European Union and the country members have strict requirements for traveling to and within their borders. For example, only certain Covid-19 vaccines are approved in Germany, France, Spain, or Italy so it’s best not to travel there without meeting those criteria first.
The regulations can vary from one destination to another. But what they all have in common is an acceptance of certain requirements for entry into their countries. These are set by the nations’ Ministry Of Health and other organizations like the WHO (World Health Organization).
Which Covid-19 Vaccines are Accepted in Europe?
The EU has approved these vaccines for use in member countries, thus they are widely available to you:
- Pfizer/BioNTech
- Moderna
- AstraZeneca
- Johnson & Johnson
In addition, the countries that are part of the EU of which the local administration approved these vaccines are as follow:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Malta
- The Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
Recently, other countries have approved additional vaccines. These are Covishield, Sinopharm, and Sinovac. Some destinations accepted these vaccines following the World Health Organization’s approval for their use as an emergency.
Which Vaccinations for Covid-19 are Approved in Germany?
Germany has joined the list of countries that have approved vaccines for travelers, following a decision made by the European Union. The approval was given to four inoculations:
- Pfizer/BioNTech
- Moderna
- AstraZeneca
- Johnson & Johnson
To be recognized as fully vaccinated, travelers must have had their final dose 14 full days prior to flying for Germany. Additionally, this information must be displayed on the vaccine certificate
- Date of inoculation
- Full name of the person
- Date of birth
- Number of jabs received
- It must be specified that the vaccine was for Covid-19
- The hospital or company that issued the certificate of vaccination
When traveling to Germany, the certificate of vaccination has to be either in English, Spanish, German, Italian, or French. Lastly, it has to be in either digital format or paper format.
Which Vaccinations for Covid-19 are Approved in France?
When traveling to France, foreign nationals have the choice between 4 vaccination programs:
- Pfizer/BioNTech
- Moderna
- AstraZeneca
- Johnson & Johnson
Travelers to France should be sure they’re vaccinated for the Covid-19 with one of these brands. If you want to enter indoor public places with more than 1000 people, a Green Pass is required and you will be able to get it only with:
- Receiving one of these vaccines
- Had a negative test in the past 48 hours
- Have recovered from Covid-19 in the past 6 months or less
Lastly, a Green Pass will be useful when taking the train and going to bars and restaurants too.
Which Vaccinations for Covid-19 are Approved in Italy?
The Italian administration has currently four approved inoculations in their vaccination campaigns:
- Moderna
- AstraZeneca
- Pfizer/BioNTech
- Johnson & Johnson
Just like in France, after receiving their vaccines, patients will be provided with a Green Pass in Italy. This allows citizens to participate in sporting events, parties, enter museums or join any indoor event.
If the patient has recovered from Covid-19 in the past six months or got a negative test in the past 48 hours, they will also receive their Green Pass.
Which Vaccinations for Covid-19 are Approved in Spain?
While most countries have approved the same four inoculations, the Spanish administration has been more flexible and allowed more of them for international travelers:
- Pfizer/BioNTech
- Moderna
- AstraZeneca
- Johnson & Johnson
- Covidshield
- Sinopharm
- Sinovac
Also, Spain has decided that there won’t be a Green pass, unlike in France and Italy, for instance. However, every traveler and citizen has to respect these rules:
- Wearing a mask in all enclosed public spaces as well as crowded outdoor venues
- Respecting the social distancing of 1.5m in the country
- Observe the other restrictions – night curfews, capacity limit at certain public events, and capacity limit at the beach
General Travel Restrictions For the Schengen Area
The Schengen Area is a region in Europe where immigration laws have been relaxed for fully vaccinated travelers. However, some restrictions for travelers from either European Union countries or Non-EU countries must be observed when entering the EU.
First off: nationals of EU member states must provide their health pass after receiving vaccines; they can also use a recovery certificate as an option. If not vaccinated, a recent negative test dated 48 hours or less or a recovery certificate is enough.
Apart from that, travelers coming from outside the EU have to be fully vaccinated to enter the Schengen area.
It’s important to highlight that some citizens can indeed travel to Europe without being vaccinated since their country is in better shape.
These countries are Australia, Canada, Chile, China (subject to reciprocity), Jordan, Kuwait, New Zealand, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Ukraine, and Uruguay.
Lastly, more restrictions could indeed apply depending on the country of arrival. For instance, quarantine, tests, and other requirements may be requested from travelers.
