Destinations for travelers vaccinated against covid-19 0:46
(CNN) -
Americans who have been fully vaccinated against covid-19 will be able to visit the European Union (EU) this summer, said Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, in an interview with The New York Times on Sunday.
"Americans, from what I can see, use vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency," von der Leyen said, according to the report.
"This will allow free movement and travel to the European Union."
Von der Leyen did not offer a timeline on when exactly the tourist trips would open or details on how it would happen, according to the report.
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The European Union halted all non-essential travel to the bloc more than a year ago in an attempt to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
What the U.S. Says About Vaccine Travel
White House senior covid-19 adviser Andy Slavitt said von der Leyen's comments are an acknowledgment of the United States' vaccination program.
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“What the world is basically saying is that they are looking at the US, they are seeing the success of our vaccination program, they are seeing the reduction of the disease and even though they know that we are not done yet, they are saying 'those Americans they can come to our country without the risk of spreading covid-19 ′, "Slavitt told CNN's Pamela Brown.
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Think about it.
It's amazing, ”Slavitt said.
“Just a few months ago, we were the nation in the world that was most isolated from travel.
That shows the incredible months we've had vaccinating Americans. "
Being able to visit EU countries is just one of the regained freedoms awaiting fully vaccinated Americans, Slavitt said.
5 countries that American tourists can visit 0:34
“So I think we're going to find more and more things like that, both internationally and also, Pam, in the US, I think we're going to see bigger and bigger steps in the next few weeks on what vaccinated Americans can do. Besides traveling, because not all of us travel, which will be very important, ”he said.
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"There is no question that the key to getting back to the life we used to know is vaccination," Slavitt said.
CNN has reached out to the European Commission for comment.
Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that approximately 28% of Americans are now fully vaccinated, meaning it has been two weeks since their second dose of Moderna's vaccine or Pfizer, or one week from your only dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
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