Coronavirus Watch: Traveling outside the US? You may face booster shot requirements

As cases of the highly transmissible omicron variant have begun to drop in certain parts of the country, some Americans may be looking to schedule travel plans for outside the U.S.

But a growing number of destinations have created additional entry requirements, restricted access to certain venues, or even denied entry for those without a booster, putting a cap on how long travelers can get by with a one- or two-dose vaccination series. 

Reporter Bailey Schulz has the latest on countries that are altering travel guidance to push for boosters.

It's Thursday, and this is Coronavirus Watch from the Paste BN Network. Here's more news to know:

• Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said in a speech Thursday that every student in America should have access to mental health professionals after two years of grappling with the pandemic.
• Moderna announced it has begun its booster shot trial specifically targeting the omicron variant. The announcement Wednesday comes a day after Pfizer and BioNTech announced plans of their own. 
• Only 59% of Americans think it’s essential they be vaccinated to feel safe at public activities, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The survey also found 47% of Americans think it’s essential that they get boosted.
• People who experienced menstrual cycle changes after getting the vaccine only experienced those changes for a brief time period, as a new study "reassures" there is little risk in fertile individuals getting inoculated. 

See our COVID-19 resource guide here. See total reported cases and deaths here. On vaccinations: About 75% of people in the U.S. have received at least one vaccine shot, and about 63% are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.

– Cady Stanton, Paste BN digital editor fellow, @cady_stanton