Exemption from PCR form or letter for travel for kids who’ve had Covid

[CatinaMum]

I’ve been searching everywhere and can’t find any info on this. As an adult who’s tested positive this is now listed after vaccine details in my NHS app Covid Pass - but we are travelling in December and I need to get an exemption from the PCR test for my kids who are under 16 so can’t use the app. They are meant to show PCR details to travel but can’t get a PCR as they’ve recently had Covid - what should I do? Do you get an exemption letter from GP, does that work? Is there something official I’m meant to do which is just not communicated anywhere?

I work in a GP surgery & letters regarding Covid status or vaccination status etc are not happening.

Other practices may possibly be doing them but just to warn you, the ones I know of definitely are not.

Can you show their PCR result? Did you receive it via text or email?

I have it via email - but just looking for official guidance on what to do as go to guidance only covers over 16s who can have the pass on the app - but seems there is nothing official for kids other than the PCR email to say they were positive

If you are travelling you need a travel pcr, these are private

@gogohm but you can’t have a PCR within 90 days of testing positive private or not as they can still show up positive due to antibodies

What country? Have you looked on that countries entry requirements rather than the UK government pages as there's often more details on them?

Thanks @bestbefore yes it only says that the un vaccinated (so my kids) are required to have a PCR - but it doesn’t say anything about what to do or show if they have had Covid and therefore can’t take a PCR - so that’s what I’m trying to find out!

Does the country you're visiting say no PCRs after infection as the UK does?

It might be worth trying a PCR, specially if it's been a while since the infection. It's not antibodies they pick up, it's fragments of the virus genetic material, thought to be inactive, that can remain in the nose/throat for a while after infection. So if your DC's body has managed to clear the debris (so to speak) a PCR will come back clear.

This could be an expensive strategy if you need to try more than once, but if you've already booked and committed to the travel expense it might work.

We are looking for this too and haven't found many options but this may be one (haven't checked they do children yet)
www.mayfieldclinic.co.uk/covid-19/proof-of-recovery-from-covid-19

Otherwise we were thinking it might be a private GP appointment.

@amicissimma no they don’t mention it at all - but my worry would be if we do a PCR and it does as is likely, produce a false positive due to antibodies the we not only can’t go away but would have to isolate unnecessarily for 10 days! @writingandspelling yes no information anywhere and I have been searching - except companies like that clinic you have mentioned who seem to be another one cashing in on Covid misery! £150 for a certificate to confirm you have had a positive PCR! That’s more expensive than a private PCR!

We've literally just asked T&T this question - they said to phone 119.

Depends if the country accepts a proof of recent covid infection to get entry. If they don't then you'd just have to try a PCR/LFT and hope for the best

There's been a few threads on this.
Children in those cases seem to have fallen into a loophole, but a negative one!
Haven't been double vaxxed
Can't get a recovered letter (which in some countries isn't accepted anyway)
Can't do a PCR as too soon.

I've also been looking re theatre. Theatre says proof of having covid has to be on nhs app. I can't get my daughter on my app without GP adding, and quite understandably, they seem to have better things to do.

It only asks for a LF so we might just do one on her anyway, but try and show the pcr positive text and see if it works as we have quite a few theatre trips over next 6 months.

"if we do a PCR and it does as is likely, produce a false positive due to antibodies "

If you're worried about antibodies you are fine because the PCR does not test for antibodies and will not be affected by their presence. Which is just as well as some lucky people could have antibodies for years. Certainly antibodies won't produce a false positive.

The PCR tests for the specific genetic material of the Covid virus. It is a sensitive test so will show positive if the swab picks up even a tiny scrap of inactive genetic material. It is cleared from many people's bodies fairly quickly after recovery, but a little can remain present in the noses and throats (and possibly elsewhere, but we don't routinely test for that) of some for up to three months, which is why the UK doesn't recommend PCR tests within 90 days of a positive result. But other countries have different rules. Singapore reported positive tests in people 180 days after recovery at one point, but I suppose the line has to be drawn somewhere.