Boosters possible after just three months from Feb. 1: Half a million certificates expire

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Some changes are in store for vaccination certificates, Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein said Wednesday. For example, booster vaccination will be possible as early as three months after the second vaccination. On Feb. 1, about 550,000 vaccination certificates of twice-vaccinated people will also expire.

Lockdown for unvaccinated ends
Beginning Feb. 1, the minimum legal interval between 2nd and 3rd vaccination will be reduced from 120 days to 90 days. However, the recommendation of the National Immunization Panel continues to be that the 3rd vaccination be given no earlier than four months after the 2nd vaccination and no earlier. Affected individuals who have previously received a 2/2 vaccination certificate due to a shortfall in this minimum interval after the 3rd vaccination will be issued a new 3/3 vaccination certificate in a timely manner.

Green passport: vaccinations valid for different periods
Because medical recommendations have changed, the validity of vaccination certificates in the Green Passport will also change as of February 1. As of February 1, 2022, the vaccination certificate on the first vaccination series (2 vaccinations or recovery + 1 vaccination) is only valid for 180 days (i.e. 6 months).

Exceptions for persons under 18
There is an exception for persons under 18 years of age. Their vaccination certificate on the first vaccination series will be valid for 210 days (i.e. 7 months). The vaccination certificate of the booster vaccination (3 vaccinations or recovery + 2 vaccinations) will continue to be valid for 270 days (9 months).

For entry into Austria, vaccination certificates or other proof of vaccination remain valid for 270 days.

Half a million Austrians need to get boosters
As of Feb. 1, more than half a million people in Austria could have their vaccination certificate invalidated if they do not get a booster before then. Since the validity of the vaccination after the 2nd sting was shortened from nine to six months, this will now carry for 490,000 people. An additional 60,000 vaccination certificates would expire anyway under the old rules, the health ministry said. Thus, 550,000 people are affected.

Push message via “green passport app”.
Two weeks ago, there were 897,000 people, and at the beginning of January, around 989,000 people. This means that a considerable number of those affected have gotten the refresher. According to the ministry, they were also informed about the expiration of their certificate via the Green Pass app by means of a push message.