Spain effectively banning UK children from entering country

[Loudestcat14]

Anyone planning a Christmas holiday to Spain or the Canaries? You might have to rethink your plans. News broke overnight that Spain is only allowing fully vaccinated – ie, double jabbed – travellers from the UK and NI to enter the country, meaning anyone over 12 won't get in because they're only allowed one jab as things stand.

It's tough but I fully support whatever measures a country wants to put in place to protect its citizens and its healthcare system.

@ComeAllYeFaithful

Well Spain and the canaries can lose out on their tourism money then can’t they

Definitely a temporary measure for them. They need our money.

Causing us a headache as our 11 year old turns 12 in the middle of the summer holidays next year. We went to Malta this year (where we visit a lot) but that’s out for next year (due to their requirements for 12 and above to be vaccinated) so we booked Tenerife.
Looks like we may have to rethink.

France is off the travel list too - in fact I think they’re going to require adults to have not just had a 2nd jab but if it was over 6months you’ll need to have had a booster which will limit those in their 30s and under in the Uk as they’re not eligible yet….so that really will limit their ski tourism from the uk!

The trouble is, vaccines are supposed to be about safeguarding against the spread of Covid in home nations, so suddenly rushing through changes like double-vaxxing kids or bringing forward boosters simply to allow people to go on holiday presents both a moral and medical issue. I doubt the JCVI is going to change its stance on children being vaccinated once, let alone twice.

@Rosehip10

Their country, their rules OP

Well obviously. I'm not planning to smuggle a young teen in my suitcase

Loads of countries are like this at the moment - eg Canada I believe - and even if you can get in some countries you then need to show vaccine status for restaurants etc

Spain effectively banning UK children from entering country

Why the sensationalist headline? They’re not banning children, they’re only allowing in fully vaccinated people.

British entitlement to holiday in Spain is extreme.

Doubtful as children don't tend to earn or spend a lot of money. We pay extra and book adult free hotels, now have the added bonus of child free flights and beaches

Except for all the under 12s who’ll still be on the flights and beaches, and all the over 12s from any country except the UK who’ll still be on the beaches.

@BunsyGirl

Causing us a headache as our 11 year old turns 12 in the middle of the summer holidays next year. We went to Malta this year (where we visit a lot) but that’s out for next year (due to their requirements for 12 and above to be vaccinated) so we booked Tenerife. Looks like we may have to rethink.

It will be an entirely different world by summer next year. I would not change any plans based on this news just yet.

@phishy

Spain effectively banning UK children from entering country

Why the sensationalist headline? They’re not banning children, they’re only allowing in fully vaccinated people.

British entitlement to holiday in Spain is extreme.

Yep, agreed, but this topic allows some to dust off and wheel out the tired old argument that “they need us…….”

Let them get on with it and do what they like. Their loss.

@dabbydeedoo no, we won’t change anything for the time being. Just another thing to think about! I like to be super organised and Covid gets in the way of that so I sometimes find things difficult to deal with.

@Viviennemary

Let them get on with it and do what they like. Their loss.

Actually they’re trying to prevent a loss of life, which is to be commended.

No, they’re not banning children as a group. All children up to 12, ie 61%, can go, 39% can’t go. Of that 39%, many will have had their 2nd vaccine if they are classed as vulnerable, or over 16 and had their first vaccine 12 weeks ago.

@PAFMO

Maybe take it up with the only govt in Europe that didn't think vaccinating teenagers mattered.

Weren't we bastards a few short months ago for vaccinating non key worker/CEV people when other countries weren't as well resourced as us?

It’s our rubbish government not joining up with what the rest of the world is doing. Probably because they haven’t got enough vaccines.

@phishy

Spain effectively banning UK children from entering country

Why the sensationalist headline? They’re not banning children, they’re only allowing in fully vaccinated people.

British entitlement to holiday in Spain is extreme.

Fair point. I've asked MNHQ to edit it.

@phishy

Spain effectively banning UK children from entering country

Why the sensationalist headline? They’re not banning children, they’re only allowing in fully vaccinated people.

British entitlement to holiday in Spain is extreme.

I was thinking the same thing. Sure if you want to talk about 'banning' then it is the UK government banning teens from travel because they won't fully vaccinate them. The UK are the ones out of step, not Spain.

I hadn't heard this. We're due to fly to Balearics on December 18th. Two doubly vaccinated adults who hopefully can get their boosters before they go (although that's proving impossible to do at the moment), one unvaccinated 11 year old BUT one singly vaccinated 14 year old.

Is there any likelihood this will change do you think?

There will be lots of children, they'll just be under 12.

I remember, pre-DC, going on holiday during term-time to a popular family resort and DH and I congratulating ourselves that there wouldn't be many children on the flight because they'd all be at school. The flight was at least a third under 5s . There were babies crawling up and down the aisles and the stewardesses were struggling to find people to sit in the exit rows since there were so many families.

@Rosehip10

Their country, their rules OP

I'm inclined to agree there

@Ducksareruiningmypatio

Child free resorts?! I'm in! (Joke)

I was thinking the same

SillyBub Have a follow of Simon Calder on Twitter, he's a travel expert who seems to have the most up-to-date info. They might U-turn, who knows.

You can travel without the Covid App - just get a print out and letter of the medication records from your GP.

Travel with single jabbed teens is a nightmare - Germany already completely bans them, and Belgium & the Netherlands effectively do so by enforcing quarantine. France and Italy used to be easier but god knows now. Fingers crossed it will be sorted out by next summer, either by our teens being offered a second jab, or restrictions being relaxed for the unvaccinated/partially vaccinated.