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?

@BunsyGirl thank you
I’ve just had a quick look online and it’s not clear because obviously the rules are quite new so some sites haven’t been updated.

I can believe it though because DH travelled to the Netherlands for work last month or month before. We’d checked all the requirements and he had to fill out a form and have a pcr on arrival and isolate until the result etc. and do other things like have his test result from before he flew.
But he used his German passport so despite living here where rates were high at the time he just got waved through whilst the other brits had to go through the rigmarole.
It made no sense from a risk perspective!
Just punishment for Brexit really 😂

spain and other european countries have been vaccinating teens (from age 12) since this summer.

UK is the odd one out. I think it's perfectly fine for any countries to ask for 2 dose, because everywhere else is giving 2 doses. Could be the same for 5+ too, since other countries started vaxxing.
But now they are allowed to have 2nd dose, you just need to wait until they are fully vaxxed.

@WhatsitWiggle

"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.

Children are not currently being given second jabs here in the UK so the option you mention is not currently an option.

What I meant is that my child had 'Comirnaty' which has a slightly different make up to the vaccines given to adults - each vaccine from different manufacturers is a little different eg some are Mrna some are not etc.

Just punishment for Brexit really 😂

I thought it was a policy for all non EU countries not just specifically for the UK? It seems odd that they would go out of their way to make rules just to 'punish' Brits for Brexit?

@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?

Cos thanks to Sovereignty the Spanish are allowed to set any entry rules they like and don't have to cater to any other non-EU country which is doing a different vaccine strategy. There are different rules for EU citizens...

So no, you pretty much can't enter Spain with children aged over 12 at if you are British. Brexit rocks doesn't it?

Your family holiday is potted. Sorry.

Brexit is the gift that keeps on giving

@Frankie4me

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.

Thanks, that makes sense now. Oh dear UK behind with child vaccines so it's a wait for roll out of second vaccines to children then or pick another country.

Thanks for responses. The websites of airlines are not completely clear and the UK Gov site is still saying negative test is ok when it isn't. Hopefully all websites will be updated soon.

I appreciate the replies - easier to get an answer on here than on Gov.uk

@User2638483 it was this thread:

Spain effectively banning UK children from entering country

Sorry can’t seem to create a link to it!

My DH is entitled to Irish citizenship and therefore an Irish passport. I’ve told him to get it applied for as although he won’t get it in time to resolve this particular issue for us, he may need it for something else in the future!

Comirnaty is just the name Pfizer have given to their covid vaccine. It's exactly the same as the Pfizer vaccine everyone has been getting, just a new name to try and move everyone away from calling it "Pfizer" which is the company not the vaccine.

I though 12-15 year olds are now getting a second jab? Isn't that part of the whole Omricon defences announced this week?

I mean there is a reason we are not double jabbing kids. See chart. But you either now need to either take a risk with your kids health or accept no EU holidays.

Spain can do whatever it likes. Spain has tourists from all over Europe who are double vaxxing their teens. I doubt they’ll miss the UK ones very much.

The UK have had a baffling approach to vaccinating teenagers. Everywhere else is double jabbing them. It’s only that are not. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[quote BunsyGirl]@User2638483 it was this thread:

Spain effectively banning UK children from entering country

Sorry can’t seem to create a link to it!

My DH is entitled to Irish citizenship and therefore an Irish passport. I’ve told him to get it applied for as although he won’t get it in time to resolve this particular issue for us, he may need it for something else in the future![/quote]
I haven't seen that thread. I joined tonight to ask the question.

Off to look for other countries then, there are a few possibilities but didn't want to change until I'd checked first. Thanks.

@Bobholll this chart shows why we are jabbing once and not twice.

*only us who are not

@Bobholll yep but there is a reason. It’s not really that baffling when you look at the stats.

France is going to insist on people over 18 having the booster in their covid pass from January. Even EU people as I understand.

I have found the other thread now. Thanks I didn't realise. Sorry I started a similar thread. Affecting quite a few families going to see relatives for Christmas.

"my child had 'Comirnaty' "

Comirnaty is the name given to the mRNA vaccine produced by Pfizer and used in the UK, for adults and children.

@AliceA2021
Comirnaty is Pfizer.
The UK gives teens 1 dose of a 2 dose "quantity"
Most other countries fully (2 dose) vaccinate teens whether it's with Pfizer or Moderna. My DD is fully vaccinated with Moderna, her friend with Pfizer.
It's the exact same vaccine. Just that UK kids currently don't get fully vaccinated.

Re: the EU citizen thing- the way I understand it (but may be wrong) is it's to do with where you're coming in from. People from Britain need to be fully jabbed, including teens. People from the EU don't. As in, coming in from the EU. Otherwise there's no logic. A Brit living in a country with low numbers (say Portugal) couldn't go to Spain because they're British...wouldn't make sense. (mind you, a lot of Covid legislation, starting from the UK only half vaccinating its teens....hasn't made much sense tbf)

The government site is correct, you just need to scroll down to where it says "from the 1st Dec". Believe me, I've looked at it a million times!

Firstly Cominarty is the same vaccine given to adults - it’s the Pfizer vaccine and the dosage is exactly the same - only the name changed.

Secondly the issue isn’t just the fact that only a single vaccine was on offer until today (in Wales anyway, I’m not sure if the English government have confirmed they are accepting the JCVI recommendation?) there is currently no way to prove that your teenager has had any Covid vaccine at all, domestically or for travel. Until the U.K. government pull their finger out and sort this our teenagers could have a hundred jabs and still not be able to enter Spain, or a cafe in France.

PAFMO not entirely correct because you could travel with unvaccinated teens from the UK to Spain if you have an EU passport.

@PAFMO does it make sense when you read the data? I mean I can’t say I agree but the data does back up one vaccine.

[quote Blessex]@Bobholll this chart shows why we are jabbing once and not twice.[/quote]
Funny how the anti Vax charts don't show the spontaneous occurrence of myocarditis in teenagers. Which is higher than from the vaccine. Or myocarditis and other cardiac problems from Covid itself. (Also obviously higher)
Naughty old cherry pickers with their little charts.