CDC Makes it Easier to Cruise with Lower COVID Vaccination Threshold

Cruise ships have been a hot button of COVID analysis for the last two years. From news articles showing massive outbreaks to the CDC warning against them for safety, cruises are in a precarious position. That all may be changing now that the CDC has committed to lowering the vaccination threshold for cruise ships. 

CDC Lowers Cruise Vaccination Threshold

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that it is lowering its threshold for cruise ships this week. They previously required cruises to meet a “highly vaccinated” status. “CDC has reevaluated and lowered the cruise ship vaccination status thresholds from 95% of passengers to 90% of passengers under the COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships,” CDC spokesperson Tom Skinner said. 

Ships can reach the “highly vaccinated” threshold if 90% of passengers and 95% of crew members meet requirements. Those eligible to receive the COVID vaccine get a “primary series” or two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. “This update is based on modeling data,” Skinner said. He also said that the agency used existing COVID-19 data and models to update the policy. “Getting vaccinated is the best way to slow the spread of COVID-19, and CDC continues to recommend that passengers and crew are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines before cruise travel,” he said.

CDC On Cruising

Even though the CDC is lowering the vaccination threshold doesn’t mean they are ready to give the whole green light. As per the CDC website, in regards to travel via cruise ships: 

Getting COVID-19 on cruise ships is high because the virus spreads quickly between people in close quarters onboard ships. For this reason, CDC recommends people who are not up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines and people with an increased risk of severe illness, regardless of vaccination status, including older people and young children, avoid cruises.