Europe Will Allow Americans Vaccinated for COVID-19 to Visit This Summer

Before you rush to book a European vacation for July or August, consider these things:

1. Neither the U.S. State Department nor the CDC is recommending that Americans travel to Europe. Just days ago the state department moved 80 percent, or 130, of the countries on its travel advisory to “do not travel” status, including nearly all of Europe. (Iceland is considered slightly less risky, where you should “reconsider travel.") The CDC also says “do not travel” for all of Europe.

2. Just because the European Commission president says Europe will welcome visitors doesn't mean that all, or even any, genuinely will be welcoming. In many of the more cautious countries such as Italy, vaccination rates are still low and more contagious variants are threatening spread. And admittance to some countries may not be easy. Ireland, for instance, has strict rules for visitors from the U.S. and dozens of other countries it considers to be high risk, requiring them to quarantine for two weeks.

3. There's still no universal vaccine passport so how anyone proves they are vaccinated remains a question. (For its own residents, the European Union is planning to issue what it's calling a Digital Green Certificate by mid-June to verify a traveler's vaccination status and allow for free movement within the EU.)

Although it's remarkably effective at preventing the worst effects of COVID-19, the vaccine does not provide 100 percent protection against infection. Those who have been vaccinated, therefore, should consider their health and risk from complications if they do get COVID-19, says Gautam Desai, interim chair of primary care and professor of family medicine at Kansas City University. “There's a small chance you can still get a variant ... of the strain that's not protected by the vaccine.”

And the pandemic is unpredictable. A sudden spike in cases within the EU could suddenly cause another shutdown, so flexibility is key. Lauren Cardinale, a New Orleans-based luxury travel advisor, suggests that before you book a trip, ask yourself, “’If you were to get stuck, or you accidentally tested positive before you return, do you have plans in place to cover your responsibilities back home?’ It's making sure you have everything in place — your worst-case scenario plan.”