Who is getting an updated Covid cert?
Currently, the 2.2 million people who have received a booster shot.
How will I get it?
The certs are being sent by email to 1.5 million people for whom email addresses are available, starting on Friday morning. The Government expects to send 200,000 per day, meaning they should all be done within a week or so.
The remaining people will receive a text message with instructions on how to obtain their cert. If you don’t have an email, the intention is that someone with an email address might be able to help you. If that isn’t an option, there is a number you can ring to request a cert be posted to you.
If you have been boosted but haven’t heard anything within the next week or so, there will be a helpline set up.
Why is this happening now?
The main reason is due to an EU rule change, brought in to reflect the waning effect of vaccines. It means that travel within the bloc will only be available to those who have had their most recent shot of vaccine within the last nine months.
Many people received the second shot (or in the case of the J&J vaccine, their only shot) more than nine months ago. Therefore, an updated cert will be needed for travel reflecting their most recent shot to enable entry to another EU state.
Does this mean I have to be boosted to travel?
It's important to note that the specific requirement is for a shot within nine months, not necessarily for a booster shot. If you completed your original vaccine course on December 1st – to pick a date at random – you can still travel for nine months without being boosted.
But the reality is that many people are close to or more than nine months post their original vaccination, so this will be necessary when the new rules kick in.
When does this change take place?
From February 1st.
Do I still need a clear test to get into Ireland?
If you're vaccinated, no. This was a temporary requirement to slow down Omicron, and Cabinet decided to waive the measure this week. Vaccinated people do not need a test but they do need proof of vaccination or recent infection.
EU citizens and residents can get a Digital Covid Cert (DCC) but non-EU vaccination proofs are accepted (eg, from the NHS). However, it can take longer to assess and approve entry with some forms of proof.
Can I freely travel in the EU in all circumstances with my DCC and no test?
Not necessarily.
The requirement for a recent vaccination is a base layer, EU-wide rule. There is an ever-shifting patchwork of local rules – for example, our own recent requirement (detailed above) for a clear test before entry to Ireland. There is a website – reopen.europa.eu – that tracks rules in place. It is strongly advised that travellers buy Covid insurance, as an infection of one person while abroad could leave them and/or their wider party stranded for days.
There may also be local requirements to access services, eg hospitality, that are more stringent than transit/arrival requirements, so it’s worth doing your research.
Will I need to be boosted to get into pubs and restaurants in Ireland?
Not soon, anyway. Your Covid cert remains valid, no matter when you got it, or whether you're boosted. Given the high levels of uptake, many people will soon be boosted and receive their updated cert, meaning there may be no need to make it a formal requirement. However, the Taoiseach signalled this week that may change but not in the short term.
