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 know the vaccine programme has been going well so far, I'm just not convinced that there won't be some cock up before my turn

Quite, or that Saint Boris might follow up his Christmas beneficence with donation of 'spare' 'surplus' vaccines to other countries, both developed and/or less developed, to improve his popularity ratings with those conservative older people who have already got their vaccine, thank you very much [pulls up the drawbridge]

That’s not how it works MrsSimonBasset. Everyone gets their second vaccine twelve weeks after their first one, so, barring disasters, you finish the second set of vaccinations twelve weeks after the first one - end of September not December if the NYT figures quoted upthread are to be believed. That does mean that we’ll have to double capacity at the peak, but as other people have said, the current limiting factor is just vaccine supply, we have the logistics to speed things up otherwise. And vaccine supply should shoot up as we get into Summer and Novavax for example comes on stream.

@SexTrainGlue

It's not going to be up to us *@Siepie*

It's expected restrictions from other countries, and how we maximise the ability of UK residents to other countries. It's also not noticeably fair for it to be impossible for someone vaccinated to be unable to travel to see their family (including for compassionate reasons) because UK isn't issuing proof of vaccination because not every potential holidaymaker will be eligible at the same time.

Yes, I phrased it poorly. I more meant that I agree with travel restrictions for the non-vaccinated once everyone has had a chance to be vaccinated, rather than with ‘vaccine passport’ specifically.

My family all live abroad and so we haven’t seen them since 2019 (we couldn’t get enough time off work to travel and quarantine in the summer). I don’t want it to be impossible for vaccinated people to travel, but equally I don’t want to be banned from seeing my family if I haven’t been vaccinated due to my age.

[quote trulydelicious]@zafferana

I'm guessing they will need a negative test to travel with vaccinated parents

So if this is acceptable for children, why can't adults produce a negative test as well in order to be allowed entry?[/quote]
I think everyone should have to do this anyway. Vaccination doesn’t guarantee immunity. If people are worried about new variants being brought around then this would reduce that risk too.

@cathyandclare

This does seem extraordinarily harsh on the teens and young adults. Locked up for a year for an illness that is of little danger to them, the last to be vaccinated and allowed to travel, and stuck with the bill for their working lives.

Agreed.

To be fair we can't really dictate to other countries what they choose to do.

If other countries decide that we need proof of vaccination to enter their country, then that's their choice. Whether it affects their economy or not will be something they will need to monitor and manage, and decide if it's working for them. It may be a temporary decision, it may be long term.

We are already effectively banned from entering some countries simply due to the high number of cases we have here.

There would need to be international agreements on what is a "vaccination passport"

^^This.

UK Gov can plan and publicise whatever they want right now, but without international agreement, maybe a series of bi-laterals or a multinational, perhaps negotiated through the WHO or even, heaven forbid the EU (for UK-European travel), it will be a worthless piece of paper.

Well that’s nice isn’t. The younger generation screwed over --again-- as there’s no point in booking foreign holidays until they’ve actually had the jab. Things could change, might take longer than expected etc!

I think it’s a good idea. I personally think anyone booking a holiday in advance for this year is a bit mad, but each to their own (not for wanting to go away, but for thinking it will actually go ahead).

I don’t mind waiting until I can get the vaccine. I don’t think I’d particularly like to travel at the minute, anyway.

@TheKeatingFive

To start faffing around over vaccine types would be utterly ridiculous

So what you are saying is that they should accept proof of vaccination with a vaccine that they think is not effective

So what's the point of these 'vaccine passports' then?

Centralised global control of people movement? Doesn't sound good

Sounds sensible - why would countries with a low cases numbers want to risk cases coming into their country. It’s up to each country to set their own processes. Similar to situations where you need a vaccination record ie yellow fever to enter certain countries.

This does seem extraordinarily harsh on the teens and young adults

I wouldn't worry - given the % of some resorts' visitors they make up, and the loss those resorts could be facing, they'll probably declare an exemption for anyone under 30

@notimagain

negotiated through the WHO

The WHO should keep their beak out of this

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

We’re in a very similar situation, DH and I are in our 50s, so should our jabs soon, but two other members of our party are under 30 ……

Centralised global control of people movement? Doesn't sound good

Oh fgs. If you can’t understand why countries want to limit their exposure to Covid spreading (while also supporting their tourism industries) then there’s not much point in this discussion.

You don’t get to tell Greece who to admit/not to admit. Their decision.

UK Gov can plan and publicise whatever they want right now, but without international agreement, maybe a series of bi-laterals or a multinational, perhaps negotiated through the WHO or even, heaven forbid grin the EU (for UK-European travel), it will be a worthless piece of paper

This is true in principle, but as said things have a way of shifting when money's concerned ... and in the areas which have little else but tourism to pay the bills another bad summer could ruin them

Is this so different to travelling to some countries prior to lockdown? Yellow Fever etc

Seems a small price

The cynic in me can't help thinking that the usual UK sunseeker destinations in Europe will be wanting our boost to their economies so, as long as their governments are supportive, holidays will be possible on the whole.

@TableFlowerss

Well that’s nice isn’t. The younger generation screwed over --again-- as there’s no point in booking foreign holidays until they’ve actually had the jab. Things could change, might take longer than expected etc!

I think the govt has finally got the message that no one is safe until we're all safe - and that means everyone who can getting the vaccine asap. The messaging has changed recently from protecting the NHS to crushing the virus, which has been the mantra of countries like China and NZ from the start, which is why they've been so successful in combating Covid, and why we in the UK have had 100k deaths so far.

@September, Quite right, 2nd dose by September if all goes according to plan. So people booking summer holidays abroad this year, particularly those younger, will be in for a shock.

Just to say that people with medical conditions are exempt from yellow fever vaccinations. So assume the same will apply for those with allergies and so on...

That was meant for @StrangerHereMyself. I need more coffee

Maybe it's PR to encourage take up, I have 2 colleagues who want it if they can have an holiday.
For the moment, I am certain that's true: get the idea in people's minds, get people talking about it, get the idea of "vaccine passports" part of the new normal (vomits at the phrase). The government's strategy of testing the public's reaction by press leaking is now legendary.

It's going to face a lot of practical problems, though, and will be nowhere near as simple as the government are making it out to be: it will probably take a long time to get this idea working.

Do I approve of this idea? I'm on the fence. While I am generally dead against any erosion of our civil liberties, any attempt by the government to micromanage our lives, I suppose it's not so different from needing to have a passport in general, to be able to travel abroad.

@zafferana

I think the govt has finally got the message that no one is safe until we're all safe - and that means everyone who can getting the vaccine asap. The messaging has changed recently from protecting the NHS to crushing the virus, which has been the mantra of countries like China and NZ from the start, which is why they've been so successful in combating Covid, and why we in the UK have had 100k deaths so far

I agree with everything you’ve said. You’re not wrong!

I still think it’s harsh for the younger ones (who are way down the list to be vaccinated) to see the older generation enjoying nice holidays, when they can’t.

I think the government should say no foreign holidays until everyone is vaccinated then.

How does it help twenty somethings to stop their parents and graandparners having an overseas holiday? How does it make their lives even a tiny bit better?