To cry because one my my jabs is the unregistered AZ Indian one...

[Oxonschools]

And we are supposed to be going as a whole family, with the grandparents, to France on Sunday.

Does anyone know how I can find out if I will be let into France.

@chocolatesaltyballs22 I don't have a link i read it on my mum's iPad it's on the independent website, I think they were
Spain, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Greece and I can't remember the other 3 sorry.

Oh wait…. I was looking on the covid app but maybe it’s the general nhs one

I have the same issue, though due to fly to Majorca a week tomorrow, so have a few more days (which might help or might make things worse).

A couple of things which might help:

i) This article seemed to provide a helpful and balanced view - www.itv.com/news/2021-07-01/covid-up-to-five-million-brits-may-be-unable-to-visit-europe-as-eu-does-not-recognise-india-produced-az-jabs

ii) As others have said, it is important to check the specific batch numbers, not just the name of the vaccine - the suggestion seems to be that the electronic pass (presumably via the QR code) will 'know'

iii) the suggestion from the ITV article is that "the EU's digital passport scheme will be phased in over the next six weeks, meaning any issues are not likely to immediately affect British travellers" - hopefully this may be sorted or at least clarified by the time that it comes into effect

iv) This article suggests that individual countries may well accept the Covishield version, though it is a matter for each country. www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/fact-check-are-9-eu-countries-accepting-covishield-vaccines-for-travel-in-spite-of-eus-decision-not-to/

Only limited comfort, but this took me from feeling that my trip was doomed to thinking that it might well be OK, though without preventing an anxious wait!

Would love to hear from anyone affected who travels in the next week!

@purpleboy I've just found the Independent article - thanks. Traveling to Balearics tomorrow so just had a very stressful couple of hours. It's been one thing after another this week.

@NautaOcts it's the general NHS app.

Yes France is on the amber list but it's not illegal to travel there. It's not even illegal to travel to a red list country, the ban on non-essential travel has been lifted. It's just really up to the individual how much post-holiday inconvenience and expense they can tolerate.

That vaccine manufacturer didn't seek EMA approval so the hesitancy to accept it is because of that, it's still effective

Exactly. The manufacturer hadn't applied for it to be licensed in the EU so EMA would have no reason to consider it for licensing.

The manufacturer contract with NHS presumably required it to apply for licensing in the UK specifically and he licensing process costs money. At some point someone will presumably have to pay for the application to licence the vaccine so those batches are accepted outside of the UK.

It’s an admin storm in a teacup, and I suspect will be resolved pretty quickly. It’s just that the particular factory doesn’t have EMA approval (because it doesn’t need it at this stage. Several EU countries have already said they will accept WHO approvals (which includes these batches) and the EU will likely follow suit quickly, just as the US did.

@caringcarer

I thought France was on the amber list. Have I missed something? Has it been put on green and I missed it?

No, it's still amber, so I have very little sympathy.

The rules for France are linked in here, I think.

www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/france/entry-requirements

From that link:

"Vaccination status
The French Government recognises the following vaccines: Pfizer, Moderna, Oxford/AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson (the vaccines recognised by the European Medical Agency). “Fully vaccinated” is defined by the completion of a vaccination schedule, specifically:

2 weeks after the second dose of Pfizer, Moderna, Oxford/AstraZeneca
4 weeks after the single and only dose of Johnson & Johnson
2 weeks after the single dose of any of the above vaccines if you have previously tested positive for COVID-19
Children under the age of 18 years old, who are travelling with fully vaccinated adults, will be exempt from requirements to self-isolate and provide an essential reason for travel, regardless of whether the minor has been vaccinated or not.

The French government have provided information on how to prove your vaccination status."

OP, you'd be advised to read that, because it sounds as if you won't be considered fully vaccinated.

It looks as though you'll be considered unvaccinated, so you'll not be considered to be travelling for essential reasons, and may not be allowed in.

@Honey12346

You can get a covid test to go to France

But they won't let you in. If you aren't vaccinated, you have to have a legitimate reason for travelling to France, and they are really limited. For example, you live in France and have residency documents to prove it. www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/coming-to-france/coronavirus-advice-for-foreign-nationals-in-france/

My first is one of these. Why don't the EU recognise it?!

The NHS app doesn't show batch numbers, do how will they enforce it?

No, is not the EU “being awkward again”. It is the Indian factory producing the vaccine under AZ license not having requested approval for its product.

@underneaththeash, the comparison you make with potential DVT are not really relevant. DVT is far less deadly, you can mitigate the risk of DVT in numerous ways.

It is a problem that we are not allowed to have honest discussions of the risk of CVST. We are unaware of any action we can take to mitigate the risk and are not able to have one of the alternative vaccines. - These factors all increase the anxiety around AZ, particularly for women.

My first is one of these. Why don't the EU recognise it?!

By what I understand the EU haven't registered Covishield which is the astra zeneca vaccine made in India.

@MaxNormal

Yes France is on the amber list but it's not illegal to travel there. It's not even illegal to travel to a red list country, the ban on non-essential travel has been lifted. It's just really up to the individual how much post-holiday inconvenience and expense they can tolerate.

"If travelling to France from a country on the amber list, those who are not fully vaccinated will only be permitted to travel for essential reasons (from the list specified for this category of country). Those who are not fully vaccinated will also need to present the following documents:

a completed International Travel Certificate to confirm their essential reason for travel. In exceptional circumstances, the French Consulate in London may be able to assist with travel for an essential reason not listed on the International Travel Certificate
a completed ‘sworn statement’ (déclaration sur l’honneur) form self-certifying they are not suffering from symptoms associated with coronavirus and have not been in contact with confirmed cases in the preceding fortnight, and that they will self-isolate for seven days after arrival. This can be found on the French government’s website
those travelling aged 11 years old or over, will need evidence of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure, or an antigen test within 48 hours of departure. There will be random antigen testing for unvaccinated arrivals.
Travellers who are not fully vaccinated will need to self-isolate for 7 days after arrival, then take another PCR test following this period of self-isolation."

OP will be considered not fully vaccinated, if the information provided is correct. It's not post-holiday inconvenience, they're not supposed to be off on jollies in the first place.

www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/france/entry-requirements

I don't really understand, I was under the impression it was the AstraZeneca just produced in India?

Surely, all the vaccines are made at different sites?

No that's not the case. This is that twat Boris cutting corners because he was so eager to hoover up every available vaccine

It's not one to blame Boris for.

He's not responsible for the speed of EMA approvals, and has nothing whatsoever to do with the timing of when an Indian manufacturer submits a product to a foreign regulator for approval for use in those countries.

His interest was to get the UK population vaccinated with jabs approved by MHRA.

@Thiscantreallybehappening

The NHS app doesn't show batch numbers, do how will they enforce it?

Yes it does.

The UK would provide the post holiday inconvenience, but France won't let the OP in in the first place. She has no reason to go.

I'm in Scotland, and when I look at my NHS vaccination record it doesn't have the batch numbers.

@chocolatesaltyballs22

Yes it does.

I've just checked mine on my NHS app and all mine says is:
AstraZenence, date of doses.

It used to have the batch numbers but they've changed it and now you go into Event or Travel.

If it states it somewhere else on the app, could you point me in the right direction, please?

I never got a card to say which batch number my jab was from. Didn’t for my first jab either.