To think it should be possible to take a just turned 12 year old to Spain?

[needabreak5]

We have a holiday booked for Easter. The family we are going with are now saying they won't be able to come because their 11 year old (who turns 12 three weeks before flight), won't have been fully vaccinated so Spain won't allow entry? Surely there must be an exemption. They have a 14 year old who'll be fully vaccinated and a 9 year old who doesn't need vaccinated. It doesn't seem right that they other 2 kids are fine to go but the middle one can't!

At present I believe children over 12 need to be vaccinated and Spain don’t take proof of recovery (ie had it in the last 6 months). So they are correct, it could change but it might not. Maybe change the holiday destination

Age 12 is not good for holidaying families at the mo

We have a similar issue. Does anyone know where fully vaxxed adults can go on holiday with unvaccinated teens/12 year olds (with or without proof of recovery?)

www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/money/2021/dec/22/can-we-go-on-holiday-in-tenerife-with-my-12-year-old-daughter. This says there's no way round it?

Do you think this an oversight on behalf of the Spanish government? Or do you think they have made a conscious decision that their vaccination rules are more important than a small amount of lost tourist income?

Thanks! Frustrating that none of us thought about checking this when we booked last summer (though my own DC are younger so 12 year old rules weren't really on my radar).

How do you prove vaccination status for this age group anyway?

I don't think there is any flexibility regarding 12 year old and Spain right now. It would have make it so much more sense to make it 12 years plus three months to allow them to be fully vaccinated.

Or alternatively the U.K. could allow 11 year olds to be vaccinated 3-4 months before their birthday, if they have travel plans or any other reason.

You can request a vaccination certificate for 12-15 year olds which comes through the post or from the 3rd Feb I believe you can get a digital version on the NHS app.

Sorry that was to the Q about how to prove vaccination

And if it's for travel they could even charge an early vaccination fee! I'm sure lots in this situation would be happy to pay not to lose out on the holiday.

It's been a common problem for teens over the last few months - the vaccination schedule in the UK has been such that it's not been possible for them to meet the requirements for travel to various other countries. You'll just have to hope the rules change before Easter.

If the child is vaccinated by Feb 3rd then there is time for the second vaccine before Easter

@Finallylostit I was thinking this, I wonder if they just turn up and ask in the next few days there is any chance they could get a vaccine even though they are 11 years old?

They won’t do it, the PGD (prescription to cover lots of people rather than the individual prescriptions you get for medication) that the vaccination staff are required to work from doesn’t cover under 12s, unless there are underlying health conditions or someone of reduced immunity in the home. Legally they therefore won’t be allowed to give it.

Spain don’t see this dilemma as both them, the EU and many, many other countries are already well underway with their 5-11yo vaccination programmes. Some areas in Spain have hit 80% fully vaccinated in primary schools. So this is not an issue for most people from other countries, as everybody is able to vaccinate their about-to-turn-12 year olds.

Silly question, but can't they not take a PCR test before flying? (and cross fingers a d hope it's negative)

Or is the issue that they would not be allowed entry to attractions etc once there as they don't have a covid pass?

@stickygotstuck unvaccinated people can't enter Spain for the purpose of tourism.

Could she travel as an unvaccinated person ?

@JSL52

Could she travel as an unvaccinated person ?

If she’s an EU national or a Spanish resident, yes.

Unvaccinated over 12’s from the United Kingdom are not allowed to enter Spain at the moment.

My daughter is going to Switzerland/France for a ski trip. She is turning 12 a few days before the trip and she will be allowed to go without having been vaccinated because they start requesting a vaccine from 12 and 2 months. Maybe Spain has the same rule?

@EileenGC

Spain don’t see this dilemma as both them, the EU and many, many other countries are already well underway with their 5-11yo vaccination programmes. Some areas in Spain have hit 80% fully vaccinated in primary schools. So this is not an issue for most people from other countries, as everybody is able to vaccinate their about-to-turn-12 year olds.

Exactly. It's the uk vaccination schedule that's the problem. Not Spanish travel rules.

@XelaM

My daughter is going to Switzerland/France for a ski trip. She is turning 12 a few days before the trip and she will be allowed to go without having been vaccinated because they start requesting a vaccine from 12 and 2 months. Maybe Spain has the same rule?

Spain’s rules are pretty clear. If you’re 12, you need to be fully vaccinated. No vaccine, no entry.

@JSL52

Could she travel as an unvaccinated person ?

That is guidance if you have specific travel reasons. I don't think a holiday would be on that list. I'm guessing it's for networkers etc