We printed our VCG cards and had them laminated at a print shop in Costa Rica. Travelled from Italy to Germany to Costa Rica - no card required.
Heading back, the travel agency booked us from Costa Rica through USA then back to Italy, and VAX was "mandatory" even though we were just transferring flights on United Airlines. We showed our cards and of course they contacted the manager. He looked at the card, asked what I did for a living and then checked us in, once he scanned the card and scrolled down......
AMAZING! THANK YOU THANK YOU!
Now after 3 years we are going to visit my mother in Canada who has never seen her grandchild. We are grateful.
I flew from SYD to LAX with United with the participation letter and a doctor's medical exemption because I'm taking part in the SARS-COVID2 vaccine control group study.
The US border relies on the airlines to deal with who's vaccinated and who's not. I got rejected by Hawaii Airlines, so the next day my dad went to all the airlines at the airport and asked if they would accept my form of documentation as an exemption.
United said Yes but Delta said they would need proof in writing of a start date for the study. The very next day I checked in and boarded my flight. The woman was very nice and she said it should be fine, I'll just confirm with my supervisor. She came back and said "You're good to go."
[Side note: I tried contacting Hawaii Airlines, CDC, US Embassy and US border seeking approval in writing since being a participant in the VCG wasn't listed in the CDC exemptions section for non immigrants entering USA. Hawaii airlines said it is up to the discretion of the staff on duty at the airport - the CDC referred me to their guidelines and told me to contact the US embassy - the US embassy then referred me to the CDC guidelines and told me to contact the US border - the US border referred me back to the CDC and their guidelines]
No one asked me at the border for vaccination documentation.
I traveled from New Zealand to India. I was asked to present a vax passport. I don't have one I have my Control Group Card and letter, which I handed over to the airline agent.
On being asked "who authorized this?" I confidently said, "It is an international volunteer participation." I looked really unconcerned about it.
I also mentioned that as of now there is no need for any vax passport for either of the countries. Airline Agent says she still needs to make a record, as rules keep changing.
She entered data from my card and details from my letter (which I showed in soft copy on my phone) into the computer system.. and that was it. No more checks and no more questions. In India/ Mumbai no one was even asked for anything. So, that's how my VCG card worked for me.
I flew from UK to Netherlands in June and had my card & letter ready to show if asked - thankfully no one asked.
I then flew from Netherlands to UK still no one asked to see anything.
A week later I flew from UK to Republic of Ireland and again no one asked for anything.
Another cheeky little success story from me - I'm taking the Eurostar train from London to Paris on a work trip.
Showed my card and letter at customs, the gentleman looked at it for about half a second and let me through no problem.
I am now waiting on boarding, enjoying my severely overpriced Pret sandwich.
