Help - why does Spain say children have to be double vaxed to enter when they are unable to be?

[AliceA2021]

After help - any travel consultants/anyone who knows the answer?

Booked holiday and adults are fully vaxed and can enter. Children from 12 - 17 have the one vaccine that is only currently available in UK. Spain say they don't count as double vaxed since only had one vax but children unable to have 2 doses! Round in circles/catch 22.

Does this mean only travellers that are adults or have children under 12 can currently enter Spain?

Yes, unfortunately, until they have the second dose.

If they have Irish (ie EU) passports I think there's a way around it?

Lots of other countries are providing full vaccination to 12+.
Spain doesn't just have UK tourists.

There was thread somewhere about this the other day, I'll try and find it and link it but yeah, I think that's the case, they won't be able to go. Other countries are giving that age bracket two doses and I think people were hoping Spain change their minds because a few people have had to cancel their holidays as the 13 years can't travel there.

Does it exclude under 12s

It means if you live in a country that, until very recently, hasnt offered a second vaccine to 12+, you cant visit Spain.
If you live somewhere that has been offering second vaccinations to kids, and they gave recieved them, you can visit.

Yes and the rule only applies to non-EU citizens so if they (or a parent) have an EU passport they are fine. It’s Spain’s rules (they have double vaccinated 12 and above for a while) and nothing to do with the vaccine policy in the U.K. Children age 12 and over will be able to have a second dose in the U.K. but only 12 weeks after the first. I feel for you because we have an 11 year old who is due to turn 12 8 days before we go to Spain next year. Unless the rules change again, we won’t be able to go.

Yes, under the current rules it means they can't go.

@nowhheeeyyy

Does it exclude under 12s

Yes

Thanks for the replies. Seems odd to exclude an age group and yet fully vaccinated people in without testing. There isn't the option to have the teenagers tested to show covid free beforehand but just a blanket ban.

The UK has a 1 dose vaccination policy for 12 - 17 currently. There is no second dose to the particular vaccine given. It's not the same vaccine as given to adults. On a travel agents website it states
"be fully vaccinated if a 2 dose vaccine or fully vaccinated if a 1 dose vaccine" surely that means it would be ok? Seems odd.

@BunsyGirl

Yes and the rule only applies to non-EU citizens so if they (or a parent) have an EU passport they are fine. It’s Spain’s rules (they have double vaccinated 12 and above for a while) and nothing to do with the vaccine policy in the U.K. Children age 12 and over will be able to have a second dose in the U.K. but only 12 weeks after the first. I feel for you because we have an 11 year old who is due to turn 12 8 days before we go to Spain next year. Unless the rules change again, we won’t be able to go.

Ooh this part is new to me…

So my 13yo dd who js half German so entitled to a German passport is allowed in with just a single vaccination?
This could be a game changer for us

@BunsyGirl

Yes and the rule only applies to non-EU citizens so if they (or a parent) have an EU passport they are fine. It’s Spain’s rules (they have double vaccinated 12 and above for a while) and nothing to do with the vaccine policy in the U.K. Children age 12 and over will be able to have a second dose in the U.K. but only 12 weeks after the first. I feel for you because we have an 11 year old who is due to turn 12 8 days before we go to Spain next year. Unless the rules change again, we won’t be able to go.

Children in the UK are not currently planned to have a second vaccination. I checked with doctor to see.

Spain must have started vaccinating children earlier than the UK then to have had a second dose as well as first. It only changed today - prior to today eg the summer this didn't apply.

As an aside… I find the whole ‘double vaccinated’ thing odd because is it going to change to ‘triple vaccinated’ soon? Surely isn’t it more relevant the time since the last injection?

It is their rules.
People sneer at anti-vaxxers saying that they wont be able to travel etc. The same restrictions are trickling down to your children. You don't really have the right to complain about it affecting your children when you condoned it for everyone else.

I asked on here since the entry requirements still shown on the Gov.UK foreign travel to Spain is incorrect since it mentions entry with a negative test. That is no longer allowed from tomorrow!

@XenoBitch

It is their rules. People sneer at anti-vaxxers saying that they wont be able to travel etc. The same restrictions are trickling down to your children. You don't really have the right to complain about it affecting your children when you condoned it for everyone else.

What are you on about!

@AliceA2021 when did you speak to the doctor because the policy change was announced yesterday? Just do a Google search and you will see loads of reports on it.

I don’t meant to be rude, but this is a new rule due to Omicron. Countries all over the World have changed their rules and policies in the last few days because of it. Are you not aware of Omicron?

On a travel agents website it states
"be fully vaccinated if a 2 dose vaccine or fully vaccinated if a 1 dose vaccine" surely that means it would be ok? Seems odd.

I think the one dose vaccine may relate to the Johnson and Johnson vaccine which is only licensed as a single dose. But Uk doesn't use this vaccine. The 3 used in uk are all 2 dose vaccines, it's just they only gave one dose to under 18s but other countries (including Spain) give 2

The UK has a 1 dose vaccination policy for 12 - 17 currently. There is no second dose to the particular vaccine given. It's not the same vaccine as given to adults. On a travel agents website it states "be fully vaccinated if a 2 dose vaccine or fully vaccinated if a 1 dose vaccine" surely that means it would be ok? Seems odd.

The rest of the world hasn't caught up to the UK's frankly bizarre vaccination policy for children.

@BillDates

There was thread somewhere about this the other day, I'll try and find it and link it but yeah, I think that's the case, they won't be able to go. Other countries are giving that age bracket two doses and I think people were hoping Spain change their minds because a few people have had to cancel their holidays as the 13 years can't travel there.

Thanks. I didn't realise. It was OK in the summer and just changed from tomorrow. In the summer a negative test was fine. More protected now since had the child vaccine in school a month ago.

@ecceromani

*On a travel agents website it states "be fully vaccinated if a 2 dose vaccine or fully vaccinated if a 1 dose vaccine" surely that means it would be ok? Seems odd.*

I think the one dose vaccine may relate to the Johnson and Johnson vaccine which is only licensed as a single dose. But Uk doesn't use this vaccine. The 3 used in uk are all 2 dose vaccines, it's just they only gave one dose to under 18s but other countries (including Spain) give 2

Thank you. That's really useful information. That explains that single dose statement then.

@User2638483 It was reported on another thread re the new rules not applying to EU citizens. I will see whether I can find it. It may be in the travel section.

We are fairly soon going to be giving 2 doses though (albeit 12 weeks apart)

[quote BunsyGirl]@AliceA2021 when did you speak to the doctor because the policy change was announced yesterday? Just do a Google search and you will see loads of reports on it.

I don’t meant to be rude, but this is a new rule due to Omicron. Countries all over the World have changed their rules and policies in the last few days because of it. Are you not aware of Omicron?[/quote]
I spoke to the doctor today when my travel agent informed me that my child has to be double vaccinated and my doctor said that is not possible in the UK. Hence my question since it is currently impossible for that age group here so a small age group are unable to travel to Spain currently. I realise the rules change on a day by day basis. It seems bizarre though that a negative test before travel and a test whilst there isn't accepted anymore.

"It's not the same vaccine given to adults".

Yes it is. The UK government chose to delay announcing when under 18s would get a second dose (making them fully vaccinated) due to the risks of the heart condition being greater than the risk of death from Covid. This risk increased substantially with the second dose. Data now shows that delaying the second dose to 12 weeks reduces the risk of the heart issue whilst giving excellent Covid protection.

Only Jansen is a one-dose vaccine, all the others require two doses.

Unfortunately yes this means 12-17 who've had one jab can't enter Spain - or Malta which has had the same rules for months.

You'll be entitled to a refund if the rules don't change (or you can't get a second jab) before you travel.

Most countries are double vaxxing this age group - it’s the Uk that are out of step with the rest of the world on this one. Most vaccines (eg Pfizer, az) are 2 dose vaccines- the uk has just decided only to give 1 dose and therefore accept it may not offer the fullest possible protection. A 1 dose vaccine is the Johnson and Johnson vaccine which was designed to only need one dose. Essentially, Spain do not agree that 12 year olds are fully vaccinated with 1 dose - and neither do many countries.