Greece will change the expiration period of vaccination and Covid-disease certificates, the so-called Covid-Pass, in order to comply with the European Union directives, Health Minister Thanos Plevris said on Friday morning.
“Expiration of the vaccination certificate after the second vaccine dose will be after 9 months and not 7as it is currently,” Plevris told Skai TV.
He noted that there is no expiration restriction after the booster shot also known as the third dose.
He added that the Recovery certificate will expire in six months and not in three as currently valid in Greece.
“The goal is to unify the duration times of the certificates” throughout the European Union, the minister stressed.
He did not say when the new expiration dates will go into force, but he revealed that a relevant ministerial decision is expected to be taken by the National Vaccination Committee next week.
Plevris said further that possibly next week, the government will present a roadmap regarding the lifting of measures stressing that “as summer approaches the country will be closer to normalcy.”
He reportedly clarified that the vaccination and disease certificates, ie the Covid-Pass, will not be revoked, but what is being examined is that they will not need to be displayed for entry indoors during the summer months.
He added that this change will take place in May, however, he did not mention a specific date.
According to the original government plan, “abolishing” the display of Covid-Pass was scheduled for April 18, however, the country’s epidemiologists decided otherwise at their weekly meeting on Wednesday as daily infections exceed 20,000.
What is an EU Covid recovery certificate
What is a recovery certificate?
As of 2 February 2022, the EU condition of entry will depend on vaccination or recovery status rather than your country of origin.
An EU Digital Covid Certificate is digital proof that a person has either
- been vaccinated against Covid-19
- received a negative test result
- recovered from Covid-19
The Covid recovery certificate proves a person has had a Covid infection less than six months ago.
How do I get a Covid recovery certificate?
The certificate is issued by the country where you live.
If you have recently had a coronavirus infection, you can receive a certificate showing that you have recovered from your doctor, or on the NHS Covid app. This will be active for 180 days from your positive Covid test.
The NHS Covid Pass currently shows proof of vaccination or recovery from Covid-19 and will be accessible to 12-15-year-olds from Thursday.
Will all countries be accepting Covid-19 recovery certificates?
Under the EU's new recommendations, individual member states can set their own entry rules.
