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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:
Sonarl · 15/08/2021 11:09

I wasnt thinking for a minute that any intelligent person would rely on little cards that you could copy or fake or swipe from any vaccination centre, no need to be so patronising. Even the UK isn't that ridiculous. My DH made a legitimate appointment online using the prescribed process (after his GP one was cancelled due to inclement weather at the local GP led centre) and was also made a competing rebooked one by his GP and sent instructions to attend that one as well. They had him sat in the chair ready to give it to him once he'd given his name (to access the centre) before he could barely tell them he was just trying to cancel it as he'd had his second one the day before.

PurpleDaisies · 15/08/2021 11:10

You are totally misread my tone there @Sonarl

PurpleDaisies · 15/08/2021 11:11

Have not are

Sonarl · 15/08/2021 11:13

Fair enough.

I agree with you that it's a shambles and they will most likely be forced to change it. I just feel sorry for people like the OP in the meantime who may be disadvantaged, through no fault of their own, until they do.

And the poor people who had the Indian AZ vaccine, really feel sorry for them.

lljkk · 15/08/2021 11:29

I Can't believe anyone would check on OP quarantining, and if by any chance some authority 'found out' she could justifiably play "stupid" on it.

Not least Because the policy is stupid

JosephineDeBeauharnais · 15/08/2021 11:31

@PurpleDaisies

I really hope this doesn’t mean I won’t be able to access places in the UK from autumn😣

They’ll change it. They’ll have to. It’s really unfair to people who have had to have a different vaccine or have been in a study.

I’m in a trial and therefore technically unvaccinated. However, everyone in UK trials of currently unapproved vaccines e.g. Novavax, has a “to whom it may concern” letter from Jonathan Van Tam stating that in the UK we are to be regarded as vaccinated for all purposes. That said, it doesn’t apply in other countries so I had to have a negative PCR to travel to Mallorca last month.
Callybrate · 15/08/2021 11:43

Arrgggh I'm so pissed off about this! I had Moderna first in Scotland and then DH was appointed overseas as crown servant so we came out to the country where we're now living and I had to get the second vaccine as part of the UK overseas vaccination thing, but they only had AZ. Bad enough second was done under English NHS, first under Scottish, makes it confusing enough, but now I don't even count as fully vaccinated? DH fine as he had AZ first time but mine are mixed. I'm really struggling here and desperate to go see my family on a trip we've planned in the autumn, after not seeing them for over a year during lockdowns, briefly being able to see them, then moving to another continent. Now I'll have to isolate for almost the entire trip, which I can't extend because it's DC's school holidays. Unlikely to get covid and that's great, but this just seems like such a stupid, pointless rule. Many developing countries will probably end up using mixed vaccines because they may have to, and there's lots of other examples on this thread of people this unfairly impacts.

PersephoneJames · 15/08/2021 11:47

@Callybrate please write to your MP. I’m
Hoping of everyone affected writes they might do something about it.

CrunchyCarrot · 15/08/2021 12:14

I find this whole 'you're not fully vaxxed unless you have both vaccines the same' just ridiculous. A year ago we had no vaccines at all! There have been papers published showing very good immune responses to a mix of vaccines. I also read that boosters this year will be Pfizer/Moderna, not AZ, so in many cases that will mean mixing vaccines.

The whole thing is a shambles.

RedToothBrush · 15/08/2021 14:43

There will be legal challenges from anyone discriminated against unfairly due to beaucratic cock ups. It will get sorted. Eventually.

TakeYourFinalPosition · 15/08/2021 15:13

I'd just go, if I'm honest...

But I think the people who vaccinated you have been pretty lax here, or there's been a communication issue. I had my first dose of AZ and had a clotting reaction. I was referred for my second dose to be Pfizer. It took forever, the CCG got involved and eventually the head of our CCG talked to me directly and said that while he could arrange it, it would mean that I was not considered fully vaccinated if I mixed the vaccines.

I then fell pregnant, and pregnant people were advised to have Pfizer, but he was sure that it was not the best idea to mix... he said to either stay with one dose for now, or get both of AZ, as I'd started that course.

I had the second AZ at 15 weeks, in the end, and all was fine - almost all bad reactions are to the first dose - but it wasn't unknown that this was an issue, and I had my vaccines quite a while ago. I'm sorry that wasn't passed on to you.

There was also a lot of queries around how boosters would work for people with mixed vaccines too. That might help you in the end as it'd give you two the same, but I'd prepare for that to be chaotic!

But for your immediate situation, I'd just go.

Original poster
Synctfsi · 15/08/2021 16:32

My main concern is am I actually fully protected. Im concerned now that I’m not classed as fully
vaccinated. 😩

OP posts:
Original poster
Synctfsi · 15/08/2021 16:39

I’ve downloaded my Covid pass from the nhs app, it says “vaccinated” and shows two doses.

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 15/08/2021 16:46

@Synctfsi

My main concern is am I actually fully protected. Im concerned now that I’m not classed as fully vaccinated. 😩
Different vaccines usually make you more protected.
saraclara · 15/08/2021 16:52

My main concern is am I actually fully protected

YOU ARE!!

Chill. I know this is anxiety-inducing, but multiple people are telling that having two different vaccines is, if anything, even better than two the same. There are multiple research projects on this (I volunteered for one but didn't get called) and the news so far is that protection is considerably BETTER than if you'd had two AZs or two Pfizers. You seem to get the best elements of each. So please stop worrying about that. I was gutted not to get on the trial to be honest, because the theory that having different ones would be a plus was already out there.

I really hope that this anomaly is rectified quickly, and I do feel for you. But protection isn't your problem. It really isn't. You're focusing on the wrong bit of this issue.

RedToothBrush · 15/08/2021 16:59

@Synctfsi

I’ve downloaded my Covid pass from the nhs app, it says “vaccinated” and shows two doses.
You will be fine then.

All sorted. Domestically this isn't an issue and the EU recognise mixed vaccination for travel purposes and two doses on the nhs records.

You may still have problems if you want to travel to the US as they don't yet recognise AZ as because its not approved there they may not accept it, unless an agreement is reached with the British government.

Re the indian az batch - most EU countries do accept it now, but until things are standardised im letting it be tested by others thoroughly. Again it could be problematic for us travel but AZ full stop may be an issue for a while yet.

I kind of feel for people who had other vaccines other than Pfizer, Moderna and AZ as it could be an issue for them. JJs effectiveness for one dose is under question / not recognised in places. And the Chinese and Russian vaccines are going to have similar issues.

Its not going to help worldwide vaccination programs. Its regressive and will slow things down.

RedToothBrush · 15/08/2021 17:01

From what ive read AZ followed by Pfizer seems to be the best combo for immunity from the research they've done so far.

Its looking increasingly likely the uk will look at mix vaccines for 3rd doses as a preferred option.

Research on other illnesses and vaccine programs favours mix vaccines which is why its being looked at so seriously for 3rd doses.

Suprima · 15/08/2021 17:08

@Synctfsi

I’ve downloaded my Covid pass from the nhs app, it says “vaccinated” and shows two doses.
Just get off this thread and go on holiday

YOU ARE DOUBLE VACCINATED

Xenia · 15/08/2021 17:26

Those very kind people who were guinea pigs for vaccines apparently are not conted as single never mind double jabbed as they were not given the AZ or Pz so one young lad who was a volunteer has just had to have his 3rd and 4th vaccine just so he is counted as double vaxxed.

igelkott2021 · 15/08/2021 19:11

As a pp said Angela Merkel had AZ and then Moderna. I can't think the UK would refuse her entry or say she had to quarantine.

Either way OP, whether fully vaccinated or not, you have to do the day 2 test (assuming they haven't done away with it by then). Nobody will check if you are staying at home. Also people have had mixed vaccines because they have done trials and were not given vaccine passports soon enough so if eg they'd had Novavax then then had one of the approved ones.

Goodness knows what the point of this guidance is. And don't worry about vaccine passports for cafes etc, they are not going to happen as infection rates fall.

Keepgoing88 · 15/08/2021 20:04

Here is what I would do OP. Call 119 and ask for a paper Covid certificate there is no expiry so if the law changes u will have this S your vaccine passport

FeltCarrot · 15/08/2021 20:58

@Sonarl

Fair enough.

I agree with you that it's a shambles and they will most likely be forced to change it. I just feel sorry for people like the OP in the meantime who may be disadvantaged, through no fault of their own, until they do.

And the poor people who had the Indian AZ vaccine, really feel sorry for them.

Both DH and I had the Indian AZ vaccine, no problems travelling to Germany. The only slight hitch we had was at check in (to return home) and they queried the timings of our antigen tests. We had them Wednesday 4pm and were flying Saturday 10pm which is longer than 72 hours but from our research still allowed within the 3 days.
andadietcoke · 15/08/2021 22:02

@Xenia

Those very kind people who were guinea pigs for vaccines apparently are not conted as single never mind double jabbed as they were not given the AZ or Pz so one young lad who was a volunteer has just had to have his 3rd and 4th vaccine just so he is counted as double vaxxed.
Oh yes. It's an absolute nightmare. I've had vaccination #3 and am waiting for #4 just in case I can travel to the US any time soon.
Blessex · 15/08/2021 22:34

@RedToothBrush the USA does recognise AZ vaccine. Any FDA or WHO approved vaccine.

lalafafa · 16/08/2021 10:12

@Bigballer

So first you had to have two of the same vaccines, then it was okay to mix vaccines but now it's not okay to mix vaccines. Same as the manufacturers said 3 weeks between doses, government then said 12 weeks but are now saying 8 weeks. Doesn't sound like anyone knows what they are doing.

No thanks I will trust my immune system until these vaccines have been fully tested and all the variables are known.

Yes its minimum of 3 weeks but the government flex this according to supply and priorities, the biggest priority at the moment is everyone to have the FIRST jab.

Mixing vaccines has been done since the end of last year, if you had Pfizer then became bed/house bound you were given AZ as the 2nd as Pfizer needed to be kept in a refrigerator, not possible when medical staff were travelling around in their own transport or a cab.

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