Brits will need booster jab if they want to travel to Europe next year, EU says

'After March 1, no booster equals no travel into the EU for non-essential reasons'

In order to holiday anywhere in Europe next year, Brits will need to have had their covid vaccine and accompanying booster jabs. Brussels has released their new travel rules that require all over-18s to have taken the booster within nine months of their second dose. These new rules are expected to be instigated from early March 2022 and have been signed off by all European capitals, reports the Sun. One source told the outlet: "After March 1, no booster equals no travel into the EU for non-essential reasons." With booster jabs for under-40s still not green-lit in the UK, this will undoubtedly leave many younger Brits refreshing covid guidelines well into 2022. The current approach sees the targeting of entire countries with restrictions - but the new rules will see relatively free travel as long as the holidaymaker is up to date on their jabs. Under-18s will also be able to travel with a negative PCR test under the new rules. Brussels boss Ylva Johansson said: "We would like to welcome people. All people that are vaccinated can come into the EU." For the unvaccinated, it looks like holidays to sunny Spain will be out of the question.

Read the full story: New Covid variant 'worst one we've seen so far', say UK experts

This comes amid news of a new super-covid variant originating from Botswana, Africa. Health Secretary Sajid Javid says that "the vaccines that we currently have may be less effective". Flights from South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, Eswatini and Zimbabwe have all been suspended until 4am on Sunday at the very least. With numerous European countries locking down the unvaccinated and new variants popping up every few months, it seems that despite changing attitudes, covid is not going anywhere.

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