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

Yes @TableFlowerss I think that too (and said so upthread). From a POV of mutant strains I think it's only prudent to keep the borders closed until everyone who can have the vaccine has done so (which is currently everyone aged 18+). In terms of students going back to uni in Sept and not starting another mass wave of infections it's vital that that age group are vaccinated anyway.

@StrangerHereMyself

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?

Because they’ll see what they’re missing and feel even shitter!! Pics plastered all over FB of people enjoying everything that comes with a foreign holiday etc... just letting them know what they’re missing!

Bearing in mind- the young have had to be ‘locked away’ to protect those older than them.

The ‘we’re all in it together - so we have to do what it takes’ narrative that has been spouted about for the last year, soon appears to be forgotten once some are out of this ‘storm we’re all in’!

Because me and my children have suffered in lockdown to protect those people. To then see them turn around and say thanks for that, we’re just gonna go get our jollies in the sun would be a huge kick in the teeth.

@StrangerHereMyself

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?

Just to add- it won’t affect them physically but it will affect the mental health of some of them.

But let’s be honest, MH has never been a priority in this whole sorry saga.

It’s nothing to do whether one age group has suffered more than another in lockdown, it’s whether another country wants to take the risk of letting unvaccinated people into their country.

Saga are requiring their customers to be vaccinated but guess all over 50s be done by summer.

www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/saga-to-require-vaccine-before-permitting-travel/

We uk based holiday this year we moved from last year .
2 adults under 50 no cev
4 children under 16

I anticipate holidays and flights being more expensive in 2022 so doubt we be able afford abroad for few years.
Cost uk holidays so shockingly high and expect be even more expensive this year when British tourism opens up.

Personally I know its harsh
I would like to ban all foreign travel in 2021 to protect uk from new strains.
Last year tourists brought back Spanish farmers worker's strain back.
Now we stressing over south African and Brazilian.
We no idea if Kent varient arrived here.

@Parker231

It’s nothing to do whether one age group has suffered more than another in lockdown, it’s whether another country wants to take the risk of letting unvaccinated people into their country.

Exactly! Each country will put its own rules in place, but I'm willing to bet that IF the UK manages to fully vaccinate it's adult population by the summer, which will crush the virus, we (and the Israelis) will be highly sought after tourists. We'll go from being the pariahs of the world to being the ones with potentially the most freedom to travel.

@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.

My thoughts exactly.

@Boxer12

Because me and my children have suffered in lockdown to protect those people. To then see them turn around and say thanks for that, we’re just gonna go get our jollies in the sun would be a huge kick in the teeth.

Exactly this! It is a kick in the teeth you’re absolutely right!

If it wasn’t for the young people sacrificing everything (even though it wouldn’t affect them) then some people wouldn’t even be here to to tell the tale, never mind go on holiday.

it’s whether another country wants to take the risk of letting unvaccinated people into their country

If their own population are vaccinated there isn't an issue. People should take responsibility for their own health and stop expecting others to do it for them. I know the vaccine isn't 100% effective, but if you are vaccinated your risk plummets.

It just seems crass that the younger ones are not going to get away this year potentially. Everyone should be vaccinated before anyone can enjoy leisure holidays.

@3asAbird

Saga are requiring their customers to be vaccinated but guess all over 50s be done by summer.

www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/saga-to-require-vaccine-before-permitting-travel/

We uk based holiday this year we moved from last year .
2 adults under 50 no cev
4 children under 16

I anticipate holidays and flights being more expensive in 2022 so doubt we be able afford abroad for few years.
Cost uk holidays so shockingly high and expect be even more expensive this year when British tourism opens up.

Personally I know its harsh
I would like to ban all foreign travel in 2021 to protect uk from new strains.
Last year tourists brought back Spanish farmers worker's strain back.
Now we stressing over south African and Brazilian.
We no idea if Kent varient arrived here.

I’m really not sure if it’s a good thing that we’re finding out about these new strains. Most of them haven’t been any worse than the ones we have already but everyone panics about them. Perhaps a case of too much information being a bad thing? For the general public anyway.

Young people have had to make far too many sacrifices. Look at the whole exam fiasco going on at the moment. Some of their futures are completely up in the air. It’s awful.

Covid will always be here. Are they saying we will have to have yearly jabs?

@SexTrainGlue

The 'locked up' bit applies to the CEV, not healthy young people who have not faced anything like the same level of restriction.

I think it is sensible to have a plan.

Because this isn't going to be up to our government - it's not a parallel to an 'exit visa'. It's because other countries are expected to introduce vaccine-related restrictions on who can enter, and unless there is a robust system for UK residents to prove their vaccine status, then there are going to be destinations effectively closed to us, regardless of the vax status.

Is it fair that some people have been under different advice and in different circumstances through no fault of their own? No. But it's been happening unfairly to various groups throughout. Soon nearly,everyone will have had a turn

I agree that we won't be the only country doing this. I think most countries will be looking at vaccination passports to protect themselves. It makes sense that we're part of the initial discussions and are thinking about how to do it.

The last thing any country wants, even those desperate for tourism, is for covid to take hold again, as it will just lead to further restrictions and lockdowns which will be far worse than just taking a step back and imposing some restrictions to try to control the risk of covid being brought in by travellers/tourists.

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

Perhaps the difference is that yellow fever jabs are available to anyone who wants one

If their own population are vaccinated there isn't an issue

But at the rate europe are vaccinating that's unlikely to have happened before this summer - which is why, to protect the vital tourist trade, there'll probably be exceptions made. The Shagaluf crowd are unlikely to be very poorly even if they get it, and "bringing it back to granny" matters less if granny's already been jabbed

@Parker231

It’s nothing to do whether one age group has suffered more than another in lockdown, it’s whether another country wants to take the risk of letting unvaccinated people into their country.

Exactly. It doesn't really matter what the UK govt do. It's the Spanish govt who decide what restrictions they want to apply for tourists to be admitted to their country.

People vaccinated in the UK are the "safe" ones and it may well be a very good idea for the UK govt to set up a "passport" scheme so that UK citizens have more options as to which countries allow our citizens in.

If we don't, I can just imagine all the howls of anguish in Summer when Spain etc don't allow us in because there's no proof of vaccination. Then everyone would be blaming Boris for not setting up a passport scheme.

Typical. My children in their twenties will be last to get a vaccine but will have to pay for the economic fallout for the rest of their lives.

When people post about when will people stop following the rules or when will there be riots.

This will be it. When the late teens/20 year olds can’t even get a week away have her their education affected and lost jobs but the older people they where saving by sacrificing all of that get to fly off aboard.

@TableFlowerss

It just seems crass that the younger ones are not going to get away this year potentially. Everyone should be vaccinated before anyone can enjoy leisure holidays.

I agree with this.

I also think a vaccination passport is a really good idea, provided it is organised properly.

I don't think anyone should be going abroad until all of the adult population has been vaccinated. Not primarily because it seems unfair (though I do agree with that), but because of the risk of travel introducing new strains and perhaps getting us back to square one again. Did we not learn the lessons from last summer?

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

Yellow fever is a lot more deadly than covid is for the vast majority of people. You’re asking people to be vaccinated against something that, for the majority, is a mild or asymptomatic illness. The vaccine will help reduce the pressure on health services by protecting/reducing the severity of illness in the people who are more likely to end up in hospital.

I have booked our family holiday in July for 10 of us abroad. We are a mixed group - I am the oldest (50s). I am not sure we will be allowed to go but the holiday company has already said if there is quarantine when getting back from the week away then you don't have to go and you get your deposit back. if vaccine also goes into the mix I expect we won't go as I doubt all 8 adults will have been done or allowed to be done by then.

The country were are going to in July probably wants holiday makers I doubt they will set a vaccine requirement but we shall see.

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

That's why I mentioned things like bi-lateral agreements upthread - or as they have now seem to have been rebranded in one context "travel corridors" ....

And as for the "WHO" comment...I understand the sentiment but regardless of who does the negotiating if you want an internationally recognised document, stamp, or similar (cf. Yellow Fever) somebody, somewhere, ultimately will have to come up some form of universally recognised format or formats.....

'and stuck with the bill for their working lives'

Like our generation were stuck with the bill for WW2 until 2006 do you mean? What goes around .......

Some vaccines are already compulsory for travel to other areas aren't they.

I would assume with all the variants international travel is really not a good idea at the moment. Many countries are going take ages with their vaccine roll out.

Foreign holidays are not a necessity. Yes it will be horrendous for the travel industry, but international travel isn't great for climate change either