Safety
EASA Issues Guidance on Crew Vaccine Waiting Periods
EASA recommended 48-hour waiting periods after aircrew vaccinations and encouraged national authorities to refrain from setting different intervals.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), hoping to provide a more standardized approach to crew vaccinations, is recommending aircrew members receive a Covid-19 vaccine as soon as available to them and in new guidance states that those vaccinated should wait 48 hours after each dose before returning to flight duty. Released on March 25, the EASA Safety Information Bulletin (SIB 2021-06) outlines recommended vaccine waiting periods for operators, aeromedical centers, aeromedical examiners (AME), aircrew, and other authorities. The guidance also appealed to national authorities to refrain from implementing different aircraft vaccination waiting periods unless justified by medical guidance.