European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen. Source: Reuters
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  • U.S. tourists who are vaccinated against COVID-19 may soon be allowed to travel to Europe, under a plan being considered by the head of the E.U.
  • The European Commission President said Americans would be allowed to travel as the vaccines used in the U.S. are approved by the E.U. medicines watchdog
  • These include the Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, which are all approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA)
  • No date has been set for when travel could begin, but the U.S. is on track to meet its July-target of having 70 per cent of its population vaccinated
  • Both the E.U. and the U.S. are holding discussions on resuming travel using vaccine passports, which confirm a person’s COVID-19 vaccine status

U.S. tourists who are vaccinated against COVID-19 may soon be allowed to travel to Europe, under a plan being considered by the head of the European Commission.

The E.U. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Sunday that Americans would be allowed to travel to the region as the vaccines used in the U.S. have been approved by the E.U. medicines watchdog.

These include the Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, which have all been green lit by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

“The Americans, as far as I can see, use European Medicines Agency-approved vaccines. This will enable free movement and the travel to the European Union,” she said in an interview with The Times.

“Because one thing is clear, all 27 member states will accept, unconditionally, all those who are vaccinated with vaccines that are approved by E.M.A.,” she added.

The E.U. Commission President didn’t set a date for when travel could begin between the two nations, but the U.S. is on track to meet its target of having 70 per cent of its population vaccinated by July.

The latest data from the U.S. Centre for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) shows 229 million COVID-19 vaccines have been administered so far.

Both the E.U. and the U.S. are reportedly holding discussions on resuming travel using digital or paper vaccine passports, which confirms a person’s COVID-19 vaccination status.

European officials have been working on creating a vaccine passport prototype for months, to allow residents to travel without restriction amongst the 27 E.U. countries.

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