Government booster policy invalidating travel insurance. AIBU?

[FluffyCushion123]

I was hesitant and worried about getting my Covid vaccinations. I had my second in September and felt lethargic for a whole month afterwards.

I’m now going to have to get a third vaccine earlier than the much of the population as the government have just reduced the recommended time between second vaccine and boosters.

If not, I will be uninsured for travel.

Looking past my own annoyance and looking at the bigger picture for travel in Covid times, AIBU to think that this sudden small changes in government policy should not indirectly invalidate travel insurance.

I think it’s ridiculous that travel uk insurance policies with Covid cover are now effectively only valid for three months after the second vaccine.

This is completely at odds with how even the strictest countries in Europe view people’s vaccination status (eg Austria considers people fully vaccinated until nearly 9months after the second vaccine).

AIBU to think that it’s unfair that a minor change in government policy is going to invalidate many people’s travel insurance and thereby effectively make the UK’s travel restrictions unnecessarily strict (as an unintended consequence of government policy)?

There will be huge numbers of travellers caught out by this, I suspect.

And yes, I do know about the new variant and that no travel is certain during a pandemic. My point is that travel restrictions should be as a result of clear travel related policy and not the unintended consequence of other policies.

AIBU?

Depends on how old you are, unless you are over 40 you can't get one yet - as you only had your second in September I'm guessing you are younger, I had my second in June in my 40's

I don’t think this is correct. Or at least it depends on where you are flying into. Gov guidance still says that you don’t need the booster to qualify as fully vaccinated

@Zippy1510 that is very interesting indeed. Thanks very much for posting that. I wonder how that fits with insurance policy wording on the need to have all ‘recommended vaccines’. It’s open to interpretation perhaps.

I think that it will largely to be to do with what the country you are headed to classes as fully vaccinated. For example I am heading to the states in a few weeks (hopefully!) and the CDC says 2 weeks past your second dose is fully vaccinated. It also seems from this that when travelling back to the UK they don't class the booster in their interpretation of fully vaccinated for travel- so I am taking this to mean I am covered on both sides. There may be countries that only class triple vaccinated as fully vaccinated as indicated on the post above- but I think its very few.

@Zippy1510 thanks.That’s not an issue as far as I’m aware (France). It’s just insurance…

Very helpful, thanks @Zippy1510

@Zippy1510 good luck with your trip!

Thanks! If anyone else is stressed with travelling at the moment there is a fantastic facebook group called UK Travel COVID-19 Rules & testing - support group. Its been a bit of a life saver for me trying to figure out all the changes in regulations!

@Lineofconcepcion

It's a consequence of Brexit that this government make it up as they go along, now they don't have to align with the EU . . .

And thank goodness for that, Ursula von der Leyen thinks it is time to think about mandatory vaccination.

Yes you are being unreasonable. It’s got nothing to do with the government, it’s down to the insurance industry how they write the policies

Get over it

The new 3 month booster is not available yet, so depending how soon you travel, you might get in before it becomes available.