STA, 1 February 2022 - Validity of Covid-19 vaccination certificates for adults is limited to 270 days from Tuesday in line with EU recommendations, but can be extended with booster jabs. Also from today, a rapid test will be valid as proof of infection, but only in Slovenia.
For the fully vaccinated their certificates will be valid for 270 days since the last prescribed full vaccination, which in most cases means from the second shot. On getting an mRNA booster (Pfizer or Moderna), the certificate's validity will be unlimited.
For the recovered who had their first jab within 180 days after getting infected (or within 240 days after recovery by 14 September 2021) the certificate will be valid for 270 days since that inoculation. A booster will extend the validity indefinitely.
The certificate is also valid for 270 days for those who got the single-shot J&J Janssen jab followed by the AstraZeneca jab.
Even those who got vaccinated twice before getting sick and recovering from Covid-19 will have their certificates valid for only 270 days after the vaccination or for 180 days after the positive result of their PCR test.
The same will apply for those who got their first shot before getting over the disease and had their second shot after recovery.
Meanwhile, those who have received two shots after recovering from Covid-19 will under certain conditions have their certificate valid indefinitely.
This has caused some criticism, especially as experts say it does not appear to have an effect on a person's immunity in what order they received their jab, prior or after the infection.
"These are the rules of the game set by the EU and they may be slower to change than we'd wish them to," Janez Tomažič, an infectious disease expert has commented recently.
Also from today the period in which a re-infection is recognised is being shortened from at least 90 days since the first positive PCR test result to at least 45 days when a re-infection can be confirmed.
As a temporary measure Slovenia is adding a positive rapid antigen test as proof of infection that on recovery will be entered into Slovenia's Covid rapid test certificate. The latter will only be valid in Slovenia.
The validity of Covid certificates is being limited for travel within EU, but member states regulate certificates for access to public places, businesses or services themselves.
