Endless stress over vaccines

[RelentlessStress]

I know I’m probably being unreasonable, but I am so anxious about our holiday in July and wondered if anyone else felt the same, or if I’m just oddly panicky…?

Flying on 11th July to Spain with a child who will be 12 but who is not 12 yet… Managed to get him vaccinated yesterday as the first possible day to do it (as a non-vulnerable 11 yr old). If he gets the second dose exactly 12 weeks from yesterday, it will be exactly 14 days before we fly. Which is the rule, I believe. (I know 12-17 yr olds can do PCR instead but I just cannot cope with the uncertainty of that!)

So, I’d really appreciate some answers from some kind people to any of these questions…

1. currently, the only appointment I can get for 2nd dose 12 weeks from now is late in the day - so will the time of day affect whether it’s deemed “14 days since 2nd dose”?? As in, it will be a few hours short of a full fortnight when we land.

2. would a walk in vaccination centre administer the 2nd dose, say, one or two days early??

3. how do we actually prove his vaccination status - as I read in another thread that under 16s can’t use the app we use?

4. does anyone know if Spain has any plans to relax rules???

I apologise for my neediness. I am not a natural traveller and the whole thing is doing my head in!

I don't think they record the time of vaccination.

how do we actually prove his vaccination status - as I read in another thread that under 16s can’t use the app we use?

You can order a paper copy, although this can take up to 14 days ithink.

Sounds promising- thank you

Unless its different for under 16's - i was told its 8 weeks between vaccines not 12

We are in the same situation. Daughter who is 5 has her first vaccine next Tuesday and that gives us a window of 4 days to get her 2nd vaccine or else we will have to cancel a massive extended family holiday.

I hope you get it sorted! We are clinging on to the hope we can still go.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/nhs-covid-pass/children-under-18-and-the-nhs-covid-pass/

This has the links for getting a Covid pass (assuming you are in England.)

@ItsSnowJokes

We are in the same situation. Daughter who is 5 has her first vaccine next Tuesday and that gives us a window of 4 days to get her 2nd vaccine or else we will have to cancel a massive extended family holiday.

I hope you get it sorted! We are clinging on to the hope we can still go.

Where are you travelling to? Under 12s don’t need vaccination where we’re going.

Also, can you go to a walk in before next Tuesday, get her done sooner to give you more leeway?

No help at all, but just wanted to say this is all so ridiculous. The fact that now you don’t have to test before flying, it’s very easy to board a plane actually with covid regardless of how many jabs you’ve had… most triple jabbed people I know have either got covid or just had it. Mind you, it’d probably stuff up more holidays if they reinstated testing seeing as how many people have it right now!
Hope you get it sorted and have a nice holiday.

@SoupDragon thank you for this.

Do you mind if I ask you another question as you do seem quite well informed… just checked some advice online and it says that you need a vaccination certificate issued at least 14 days after the last dose… I won’t have time to be titting around with certificates the very day we travel!! If I get him the app you linked to, will it do that sort of thing automatically so that you can see he’s been vaccinated 14 days ago? This is so stressful!!

I'm not that well informed I'm afraid, I've just been gathering the info I need to make sure we can all go on holiday this summer. I spent the run up to last summer panicking about tests and certificates and more tests 😂

I don't think the pass/certificate has to be issued 14 days after the last dose, the date of the last dose just needs to be 14 days before you travel.

@RelentlessStress it's a cruise and all over 5s have to be doubly vaccinated 14 days prior to day of sail or we won't be allowed on board. We booked this last summer and didn't expect it to be this stressful!

No walk ins doing children around here sadly. They only have 1 clinic on the 12th April.

Here's the information on entering Spain from the Spanish government ....www.spth.gob.es/info-pcr

It says: As of 1 February 2022, vaccination certificates issued by the competent authorities of the country of origin shall be accepted as valid 14 days after the date of administration of the last dose of the complete vaccination schedule.

I access my daughters Covid certificate from the NHS app using her email and log in (she's 14). The certificate with its QR code was available a day or so after the vaccination was done, so well before the 14 day limit. I always download a pdf certificate and print out a paper copy (because I'm old and analogue!). Maybe have a chat with your surgery if you're having problems logging in. Otherwise ask them if they can produce a paper copy. Just make sure it has the QR code.

If you're really nervous, a negative lateral flow covid test is fine for entry, although I think they need to be done within 24 hours of travel.

Make sure you fill in the Passenger Locator Form, you can fill one form for the whole family, giving details for each person. Look at the group/Family FCS form in the link.
www.spth.gob.es

If you can't upload any of the covid certificates, don't worry, just say so on the form and have it ready to show when requested.

The airline will check your forms at the gate before boarding, and will deny boarding if they're not correct. However it's a visual check normally, they don't scan the codes. On arrival in Spain (or Malaga at least) after passport control the QR codes on the locator form/s will be scanned, and any not-uploaded Covid certs will be scanned too. They also do a temp check with one of those infra red gun type things. Normally a very fast process, no hold ups.

In terms of anything changing soon, it depends on where you're going. Each area has the power to impose their own rules. We're still wearing masks, but some of those rules are set to change after Easter although not confirmed yet I believe. No news on requirements for certificates.

Have a fabulous holiday, and try not to let it stress you too much : )

@ItsSnowJokes I travelled to a town 30 mins away for our 12yr old who was able to be jabbed at the Boots with a walk in. Have you had a check to see if any pharmacies can do it?

Vaccinating your DC because YOU don't want the uncertainty of a PCR (wouldn't it be better to actually know if they have covid anyway before travelling??) seems so extreme to me, especially when it doesn't seem to have eased your stress any.

@PrivateHall

Vaccinating your DC because YOU don't want the uncertainty of a PCR (wouldn't it be better to actually know if they have covid anyway before travelling??) seems so extreme to me, especially when it doesn't seem to have eased your stress any.

Thanks for your opinion. I’ve discussed it fully with my son and I was very clear the decision was his. The uncertainty isn’t just a potential stress for me though - it’s a real weight on his mind too. I was always going to get my children vaccinated, with their permission. Aren’t you?

Thank you so much everyone- especially @Hecho and @SoupDragon