the measure will ultimately not be applied on March 1
More than 350,000 Walloons and Brussels residents will breathe: those to whom “only” two doses have been administered will not see their CST suspended on March 1, contrary to what had been announced.
The consultation committee of this January 21 had agreed to limit the period of validity of the second dose of vaccine, or of recovery. From March 1, 2022, the validity period of the Covid Safe Ticket (CST) for people over 18 was to be reduced from 270 days (9 months) to 150 days (5 months). The validity period of the reinstatement certificate was to increase from 6 months to 150.
This would have meant that from March 1, for most Belgians who had received their 2nd dose during the autumn, a booster dose would have been necessary for the CST to continue to be valid.
Yes, but now, the memoranda of understanding with the regions are not ready on March 1, and the measure will therefore not be able to apply on the scheduled date, we have confirmed the cabinet of the Minister of Health Frank Vandenbroucke. And given that a Concertation Committee is scheduled for March 4, and that everyone expects it to decide on a switch from the corona barometer to code yellow (where the CST is no longer needed anywhere ), it is likely that it will never be applied.
“We are, however, looking at how to keep the measure in a drawer, to be able to apply it in the fall for example, if a new wave arises, rather than removing it permanently” we explain to the cabinet.