The United States will accept the use of COVID-19 vaccines authorised by American regulators or the World Health Organization for international visitors, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Friday.

The White House, on September 20, announced the United States in November would lift travel restrictions on air travelers from 33 countries including China, India, Brazil and most of Europe, provided they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. It, however, did not specify which vaccines would be accepted.

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A CDC spokeswoman told Reuters on Friday, “Six vaccines that are FDA authorized/approved or listed for emergency use by WHO will meet the criteria for travel to the US.”

The CDC further said that “earlier this week, to help them prepare their systems we informed airlines” of the vaccines that would be accepted and added “CDC will release additional guidance and information as the travel requirements are finalized.”

Airlines for America, a trade group representing American Airlines Co, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and others, said it was “pleased by the CDC’s decision to approve a list of authorized vaccinations for travelers entering the U.S. We look forward to working with the administration to implement this new global vaccine and testing framework by early November 2021.”

Air travelers from the 26 Schengen countries in Europe as well as Britain, Ireland, China, India, South Africa, Iran and Brazil will be admitted by the US, provided they are fully vaccinated. 

Apart from the acceptance, it is imperative that the CDC finalises and publishes new contract tracing rules for international visitors, which it sent on September 15. 

The CDC must also detail rules for exceptions. The administration should further also determine and establish whether to admit visitors part of COVID-19 clinical trials or those who have recently contracted COVID-19 and are not yet eligible for vaccination.