Poland extends Covid certificate indefinitely

The health minister has announced that Poland will extend the validity period of Covid vaccination certificates indefinitely for people who have received a booster jab.

"In Poland, the EU (Digital) Covid Certificate for people who have received the third, or the booster dose of a coronavirus vaccine, is now valid indefinitely," Adam Niedzielski tweeted on Tuesday.

"At the same time it should be reiterated that for children up to 18 years of age, the certificate is valid indefinitely in the entire EU," the health minister added.

In a conversation with PAP on Tuesday, Wojciech Andrusiewicz, the health ministry spokesman, explained the rationale behind the decision.

"Since there are no recommendations on the fourth dose, apart from people over 80 and those with reduced immunity, a decision has been made to introduce the indefinite validity of the certificate in Poland," Andrusiewicz said.

So far, the EU Covid certificate was valid for 270 days after the administration of a booster jab. The new rules came into force on Tuesday.