Spain says last Covid jab must within 270 days for allowing entry to Indian & some other nationals

CHENNAI: European countries have begun mandating booster shots to allow entry so that the last jab has been received within a certain time period and therefore vaccination certificate be accepted as valid. The Spanish embassy in India says starting February 1, 2022, this certificate will “be valid from 14 days after the date of administration of last dose of the complete vaccination schedule and only up to 270 days from the date of administration of that last dose. Thereafter, in order to be valid, the vaccination certificate must reflect the administration of a booster dose.”

This updated entry requirements in Spain apply to travellers coming from India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives and Bhutan for tourism/business purposes.

“Certificates with vaccines not authorised by these agencies are also acceptable, but the last dose administered must be of one of the authorised vaccine,” the embassy website says.

Other EU nations are also going to soon indicate the day from when the last-jab-in-so-many-days rue comes into force. India currently allows booster shots only to a few people, including those over 60. “It is time India allows booster shots so that travellers from here can meet the last jab timeline rules that EU will be rolling out. This can perhaps be done on a reciprocal basis,” said a leading travel agent.

Also now that the Omicron situation is fast improving, the travel industry feels India allow a graded resumption of scheduled international flights that was supposed to happen from December 15, 2021, but was delayed by the third wave.

“Post Delta, we delayed allowing resumption of regular flights so much that the third wave struck and the graded resumption did not happen. This time we should not lose time and allow those flights quickly. While bubble flights provide vital connectivity, fares under them have been astronomical,” said another travel agent.