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Original poster

I’m going to have to cancel my holiday, I’m not classed as fully vaccinated.

164 replies

Synctfsi · 14/08/2021 22:36

We’ve booked a holiday for the end of September, as myself and DH are fully vaccinated we don’t have to quarantine on return.

My first vaccine was AstraZeneca and my second
was Pfizer.

I’ve read in the news tonight about the UK now changing their description of what counts as fully vaccinated, and it states that you have to have received two doses of the same vaccine.
(formerly two doses of any approved vaccine)

Im gutted. What does this mean for me in terms of freedom within the UK? If places start asking for proof of vaccination, will I be denied entry now?

If I’m not classed as fully vaccinated does this mean I don’t have good protection against Covid?!

OP posts:
joystir59 · 15/08/2021 06:43

So on the NHS app do you have your Covid Pass? If so surely that's all you need?

TrueNorthStrongAndFree · 15/08/2021 06:52

I think there are going to be lots of anomalies like this in the short term. Here in Canada they actively recommended a mix and match approach - If you had AZ as a first does the govt advice was to get an mRNA vaccine second (Pfizer or Moderna) as it gave better protection. Eventually I am sure that every country will have to accept 2x any WHO approved vaccines as full vaccinated - it's just a question of when this all gets sorted. Hopefully long before your holiday!!

CordeliasPencil · 15/08/2021 07:16

Why can't you just go and get another Pfizer?

saraclara · 15/08/2021 07:21

@CordeliasPencil

Why can't you just go and get another Pfizer?
You can't just go and get a third vaccination. The vaccination centre computer will just say no and the system won't allow it.
Namechangedzzz · 15/08/2021 07:25

A relative of mine has had one az and one pfeizer. not by choice. A computer error marked everyone on that first day as the wrong type and she forgot her card the second time. We are in the UK. It was downplayed by the go and testing centre but she has been contacted by the NHS and they are very interested in the effects it has had.

She is now in a study where she sends off samples off blood regularly as they are testing how many antibodies she has and ultimately whether it is better to mix or not.

Fyngal123 · 15/08/2021 07:29

@Synctfsi you are fully vaccinated. There is suggestions that the booster will be a different brand. As they were both given in the UK, I honestly won’t stress about it. There’s so many reasons you could have had a different brand for second dose.

EasterIssland · 15/08/2021 07:32

Sorry op it’s been changed :( few days ago it was saying the opposite that the uk would allow mixing vaccines if they were done within the nhs programme but not if it was in USA or Eu. Seems like they’ve changed it today ? Totally unfair for many of you that for medical reasons you’ve mixed the vaccine

EasterIssland · 15/08/2021 07:37

@SalubriusSalamander

Yeah any link to this? I've had real trouble sorting out my mums vaccine status. She had AZ in England and then moved to France and had Moderna.
@SalubriusSalamander it’s in the gov page “ 12 August 2021 Corrected an error for vaccination rules for the UK. For 2 dose vaccines, you must have the same approved vaccine for each dose for you to be considered fully vaccinated. Also, clarified the European countries in the section on children.”

What counts as fully vaccinated
‘Fully vaccinated’ means you must have had a final dose of an approved vaccine at least 14 whole days before you arrive in England.

The day you have your final dose does not count as one of the 14 days.

If you were vaccinated in 2 doses it must be with the same (MHRA, EMA, Swissmedic or FDA) approved vaccine. For example, if your first dose was Moderna your second dose must also be Moderna.

For the UK programmes you can have 1 dose under the UK vaccination programme and the other under the UK vaccine overseas programme.

If you had an approved 1 dose vaccine, such as Janssen, you are fully vaccinated.

www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-quarantine-when-you-arrive-in-england#rules-if-youre-fully-vaccinated

JosephineDeBeauharnais · 15/08/2021 07:39

Nobody checks anything other than your passport as normal when you re-enter UK at the end of your holiday (we’ve recently returned from Mallorca).

mrssunshinexxx · 15/08/2021 07:41

Get another pfizer @Synctfsi

Oblomov21 · 15/08/2021 07:43

If you have the vaccine passport on the app, then what's the problem?

PersephoneJames · 15/08/2021 07:47

@Synctfsi I’m in the same boat as you and furious. I have written to my mp.

My vaccine passport also says 2/2 so I think I’m going to risk it.

Pissinthepottyplease · 15/08/2021 07:57

@CoffeeRunner

The risk is associated with the first dose.

We would never ever give Pfizer as a second dose to AZ.

That’s not true at all. There is less of a risk of the second AZ if you’ve been fine after the dose of AZ but it’s still a risk.
CordeliasPencil · 15/08/2021 08:06

@saraclara I get that - but if the rules have now changed, and it was the rules changing that meant OP had to have different vaccines in the first place, surely it would be worth a discussion with either the GP or 119 to see if OP can get another Pfizer? I wouldn't personally just rule out trying to get another one.
The rules have changed, very much on the sly it seems, and now OPs liberties have been curtailed, when as far as she knew she had had both vaccines and was allowed to do whatever double vaccinated people are allowed to do.
Now this has changed I think it's worth having the conversation.
Furthermore if she isn't able to just have another one, if I were her I'd write to her MP because this situation is just a political one and not at all fair. I wouldn't be letting this drop.

UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme · 15/08/2021 08:09

Synctfsi yes he did mix.

Original poster
Synctfsi · 15/08/2021 08:20

Hmm maybe I’ll still go then. Just take my chances!!

OP posts:
FeltCarrot · 15/08/2021 08:20

I have just returned from Germany, upon check in and arrival in Germany they only gave a cursory glance at our vaccine passport. We printed them out to make it easier. On return, they were more interested in out negative test results and again just glanced at our vaccination passport.
On arrival in the UK, was usual passport but there were signs saying there were spot checks on PLFs.

NautaOcts · 15/08/2021 08:26

I totally think you’re overthinking this
If you’re on the app as fully jabbed I’m sure you’ll be fine. They won’t look that closely will they.

NaturalBlondeYeahRight · 15/08/2021 08:29

Just got back from Spain Op, they checked that I has the nhs passport QR code to board and once we arrived back NO ONE checked a single thing except passport. You’ll be absolutely fine if app says you have had both.

PersephoneJames · 15/08/2021 08:35

Do they scan the QR codes or just look at them?

saraclara · 15/08/2021 08:42

Yep f they scan the qr code it will show them exactly what vaccines were given and when. So a glance is all it needs for the official to confirm that the passenger is covered.
If they just check that you have a qr code there's unlikely to be a problem.

saraclara · 15/08/2021 08:44

@NaturalBlondeYeahRight

Just got back from Spain Op, they checked that I has the nhs passport QR code to board and once we arrived back NO ONE checked a single thing except passport. You’ll be absolutely fine if app says you have had both.
The UK wouldn't need to because the Spanish authorities would have put your vaccination/test stuff on the system so there's no need for UK officials to check again.
gogohm · 15/08/2021 08:55

Contact your gp by email (via the nhs app) and state what you have here, ask if you should have a second Pfizer

Dandy008 · 15/08/2021 08:56

Are you protected by mixing vaccines?! Confused

PurpleDaisies · 15/08/2021 08:58

@Dandy008

Are you protected by mixing vaccines?! Confused
Yes. It’s a thing. You often get better immunity with mixing vaccines of different types.
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