The European Commission has adopted rules that will make the European Union Covid-19 certificate valid for travel nine months after the completion of the primary vaccination schedule.

The new rules will be binding on the 27 European Union (EU) states from February 1. The rule can be blocked by a qualified majority of EU governments or a simple majority of European Parliament members, but officials have said there is sufficient support for it.

The rule replaces a non-binding recommendation the EU Commission put forward in November.

Once the rule is effective, EU states will be obliged to let fully vaccinated travellers with a valid pass access their territory.

Read more from Reuters here.