vaccination card. Can we believe that despite the new epidemic wave, the anti-Covid device will never appear again? However, the new text of the health law, which is due to come into force in August 2022, makes no mention of it.
summary
[Mis à jour le 5 juillet 2022 à 13h11] While the Covid-19 is gaining ground with 110,000 positive cases registered in France this Monday, July 4 and an incidence rate reaching almost 1,100 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, the vaccination record is still appearing, according to Public Health France not not in the new draft law on “vigilance measures” which comes into effect on August 1 and replaces the Public Health Emergency Act, which expires on July 31.
Questioned on France 3’s political Sunday program this Sunday, July 3, the President of the National Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet, confirmed that the vaccination certificate was not foreseen in this new text of the law, entitled “Surveillance and health security” of the National Assembly be submitted by July 11th. The new draft law aims to retain certain instruments in the context of pandemic management, but not the vaccination card. It will be examined in the National Assembly starting next Monday. Olivier Véran, new government spokesman, explained that this new bill “will make it possible to expand some provisions absolutely necessary to deal with the continuation of the Covid-19 epidemic in our country”. “On the other hand, all other measures to combat the epidemic (…) are no longer part of this bill,” he confirmed.
In fact, the new health law consulted by our colleagues from France Inter does not mention the possibility of activating this tool to check the vaccination status. The first article extends until March 31, 2023 the devices for epidemic surveillance and contact case identification (the SI-Dep and Contact Covid computer files). The second envisages the possible introduction of border control systems such as the health passport only if a worrying variant were to spread rapidly abroad, confirmed Olivier Véran, Elisabeth Borne’s new government spokesman. This new bill should come into force on August 1, if approved by Parliament.
The immunization record is governed by a Health Emergency Transitional Arrangements Act, which will officially end on July 31, 2022. The government has decided to no longer make the vaccination card mandatory in the new law entitled “Surveillance and Health Security” which will come into force on August 1. “The virus is actively circulating again, but the effects on the hospital system are weak,” the prime minister explained to the group leaders.
After all, the vaccination card suspended on March 14 will have lasted less than two months as it only came into force on January 24, 2022. In order to reactivate the vaccination card, the government would have to pass another law.
Is the vaccination card still necessary for the trip?
As of March 14, 2022, from the time of your trip in France, the vaccination card is no longer required to take the plane, train or long-distance bus. However, when you travel abroad, different health regulations apply depending on the country of destination. Some European Union member countries may require a negative test, proof of vaccination or a certificate of recovery from Covid-19. It is advisable to check the France Diplomatie website beforehand. For trips to countries such as Portugal, Spain, Germany or Italy, the presentation of a digital EU-COVID certificate is still mandatory.
How do I get the EU COVID digital certificate?
For travel to one of the member countries of the European Union, an EU digital COVID certificate is required for travelers aged 12 and over. Since February 1, 2022, it has been obtained through one of these three proofs:
- A vaccination card : If you have an initial vaccination schedule (one dose of Janssen vaccine or two doses of Moderna, AstraZeneca or Pfizer), the EU COVID digital certificate is valid from day 14 to month 9 (exactly 270 days) “depending on administration of the last dose of the primary vaccination plan” states the official website of the European Union. If you have received a booster vaccination (in addition to the initial vaccination plan for travelers over 18), your EU-COVID digital certificate is not valid at this time.
- A test result negative for Covid-19 : Antigen test valid for 24 hours or RT-PCR test valid for 72 hours. However, it is advisable to check the validity period of the negative test required for the European country through the France Diplomatie website.
- A certificate of reinstatement at Covid-19 : valid from the 14th day to the 9th month (exactly 270 days) “after the first and only dose after recovery of an infected person” states the official site of the European Union. In addition, people who have recovered from Covid-19 within 180 days of entering the European Union have a valid Covid-19 recovery certificate.
These rules only apply to vaccination certificates for travel within the European Union, which are checked at the borders. They are not the same in the national context.
Is a booster vaccination necessary to return to France from abroad?
In the European context, persons aged 18 and over wishing to enter the national territory must have received a booster vaccination 9 months at the latest (exactly 270 days) after the injection of the last dose of the primary immunization regimen (one dose of Janssen vaccine or two doses of Moderna, AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccine). It should be noted that the vaccination card “will be reactivated as soon as the person has made their vaccination reminder,” emphasizes the government website.
Do I have to take a negative test to return to France from abroad?
Since February 12, 2022, the rules at the borders of the national territory have been relaxed. Vaccinated travelers “according to European regulations” no longer have to present a negative test to return to France, “regardless of their country of origin”, specifies the website of the Ministry of the Interior.
For “unvaccinated travelers, the obligation to present a negative test to travel to France remains, but the measures on arrival (testing, isolation) will be lifted if they come from green-listed countries characterized by a moderate spread of the disease.” virus are marked,” the ministry states. “When unvaccinated travelers come from an orange-listed country, they must still show compelling reason” and will always be “randomly tested on arrival”. “Travellers who have tested positive must self-isolate in accordance with health insurance recommendations,” the ministry’s website adds.
Which controls of vaccination card, test or certificate of recovery at the borders?
Travelers aged 12 and over entering a Member State of the European Union are systematically checked by air or sea. You must present a valid European digital COVID certificate. Equipped with a QR code that the authorities scan with the TousAntiCovid Verif application, the European digital COVID certificate is a tool that allows border controls to be “streamlined and accelerated”. The philosophy of this European passport is “to find freedom while ensuring the best possible health security,” explains the government in a press release.
To date, the 27 member countries of the European Union and 35 non-EU countries (and territories) have joined the EU’s digital COVID certificate system, which includes the ‘vaccination card’, as the negative antigen test or certificate of immunity.
The EU COVID digital certificate is required for travelers crossing the borders of 27 Member States of the European Union : France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Ireland, Croatia, Greece, Austria, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Malta, Denmark, Poland, Finland, Sweden , Hungary and the Czech Republic, but also in the countries of the Schengen area located outside the European Union : in Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Iceland and Norway, then in the principalities of Monaco and Andorraand in the following countries outside the European Union : Albania, Armenia, Benin, Cape Verde, El Salvador, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Tunisia, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Panama, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Togo, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and Crown Dependencies (Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man), Uruguay and Vatican.