UK plans certification system for those who want to travel to countries that may demand it as a condition for entry. *title edited by MNHQ at OP's request*

[Frequentflier]

In the Times. www.thetimes.co.uk/article/government-plans-covid-vaccine-passports-to-allow-foreign-holidays-3mc9vd0xk

I approve of this. Slightly annoying at a personal level as I’m back of the queue for a vaccine, but another staycation this year isn’t the end of the world.

It makes sense that those who can travel safely this summer should, for the sake of the economy and their own wellbeing.

It means that delays in vaccine schedules will go down like lead balloons however.

Actually, if the vaccine programme keeps up its current pace all UK adults should be vaccinated by 25 June

That's first shot, add 3 months for second and a further 2 weeks for it to 'take' properly. We cannot be sure that other countries will be prepared to accept travellers who have not completed the full course

And given that from late March, second shots from those done in January will fall due, so the pace of first shots will change.

Maybe it's PR to encourage take up, I have 2 colleagues who want it if they can have an holiday.

We have a family holiday to Greece booked in august (postponed from last year) but have a 19 year old and a 17 year old. We should be vaccinated by then but not them - how will that work I wonder 🤔

I’m back of the queue for a vaccine, but another staycation this year isn’t the end of the world

I think UK holidays may well be permitted, so more than only staycation is on the cards

Also I think this kind of stuff is the most effective way of getting through to the anti vaxxers.

Your choice to get vaccinated or not, sure, but also Greece’s choice whether to let you hang out on their beaches.

• Actually, if the vaccine programme keeps up its current pace all UK adults should be vaccinated by 25 June

That's first shot, add 3 months for second and a further 2 weeks for it to 'take' properly. We cannot be sure that other countries will be prepared to accept travellers who have not completed the full course

Yes I thought that was just the first jab, that's why I expect delays as they will maybe move the young out to give more 2nd doses.

I think UK holidays may well be permitted, so more than only staycation is on the cards

That’s kinda what I meant

I'm sure I read that the younger generation are most likely to be furloughed/lost their jobs. And we know they will have to pay for it all, so seems a tad unfair

Another reason why it won't happen.
if international travel opens up, it will be based on a countries infection rate and in the case of the EU, whether your in or out of the EU.
Last year they heavily restricted 3rd country tourism, we were only allowed to travel because we were in transition.

@Frequentflier

I think so, but am sure I will be told I am a communist:) I have family in 4 different countries, so have no option but to fly a lot.

Me too. But then, by any political measure, I am a communist, so I won't be bothered about name calling. The truth is that some countries / airlines are already doing this, and it would make sense for the world to get behind a single system instead of everyone having their own process. I suspect that in the interim there may be some kind of two strand system - one for those who have been able to get the vaccine, and one for those that haven't (many destinations already have the latter, but again, it isn't consistent).

Younger people usually have more flexibility as to when they can take holidays, so if they aren’t vaxxed by the start of the summer, an autumn sun holiday could be on the cards.

What about if you have young dc?

@iveturnedintoachip

* Actually, if the vaccine programme keeps up its current pace all UK adults should be vaccinated by 25 June

That's first shot, add 3 months for second and a further 2 weeks for it to 'take' properly. We cannot be sure that other countries will be prepared to accept travellers who have not completed the full course

Yes I thought that was just the first jab, that's why I expect delays as they will maybe move the young out to give more 2nd doses.

The pace of vaccinations, plus the supply of vaccines, are due to increase with time. So far, we've had supply issues that have limited the pace of the roll-out (my local centre, for instance, is only open 2 days a week because of supply issues), but from next month we'll be getting supplies of the Moderna vaccine, plus Janssen and Novavax are expected to be approved soon. Just this week 39 new vaccination centres have opened, so the pace we're achieved thus far should be the tip of the iceberg for what could be done if supply is better.

it will be based on a countries infection rate and in the case of the EU, whether your in or out of the EU.

Can I get around that by having an EU passport? 😆 Really would like to see my parent (who's over 70 & vulnerable & still waiting for 1st jab)

I couldn’t read the full article as it’s behind a paywall. But one of the opening paragraphs states:
“The Foreign Office, Department for Transport and Department of Health and Social Care are working on options for travellers to countries that may demand it as a condition of entry.”
So this is only relevant if planning on travel to countries that MAY demand this. So not all foreign travel.

Ok, sounds like a good plan as long as there are exemptions for those that genuinely can’t have it.

I’m pregnant and then I’ll be breastfeeding so no foreign holidays for me! Not that I want to with a baby.

@iveturnedintoachip

What about if you have young dc?

As they're not eligible to have the vaccination it is unlikely they'd be prevented from travelling for not having it. They and others who aren't able to have the vaccination are likely to be exempt.

Vaccination passports are not new. Some countries have vaccinations as part of their entry requirements, when I went to Kenya I had to carry a card to say I'd had the Yellow Fever vaccination for example.

Staycation is a term coined only a few years ago to differentiate between UK holiday and staying at home and acting like you're on holiday.

It's still a useful distinction - especially as we have restrictions on travelling within UK at the moment, and may well have some over Easter.

As they're not eligible to have the vaccination it is unlikely they'd be prevented from travelling for not having it.

But aren't they super spreaders?

Posted too soon. So thread title is pretty misleading.

I think UK holidays may well be permitted, so more than only staycation is on the cards

I'd rather stay at home.

Vaccination passports are not new. Some countries have vaccinations as part of their entry requirements, when I went to Kenya I had to carry a card to say I'd had the Yellow Fever vaccination for example.

Absolutely & I've had to do similar but this seems a little more complicated imo.

@iveturnedintoachip

What about if you have young dc?

Yes this is my question too. I thought that the vaccine hadn’t been tested in children and therefore there were no plans to vaccinate children?

But aren't they super spreaders?

Firstly no, they aren’t.

Secondly, once vulnerable adults are all vaxxed, general transmission is much less of a problem.