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Original poster

Travel restrictions from now on

34 replies

goldensilver · 23/02/2022 09:16

What do you think the likelihood is of vaccine travel restrictions being put back in place for kids/teens for places like Spain?

We have a holiday booked for the summer and teen DS is unvaccinated. Completely his choice as he has needle phobia and is not worried about catching covid.

DH and I fully vaxed and our under 12 yr old obv not vaxed yet, but is it likely they will bring this in?

If another variant emerges and they bring in stricter rules and people haven't been vaxxed, will the holiday company be obliged to let you postpone the holiday?

I'm so confused with it all - not been abroad since 2019. Thanks.

OP posts:
HariboMaroon · 23/02/2022 09:30

I’m in the same boat. I think you could postpone the holiday but it would be at a cost. Although having said that it depends who you speak too as we moved this holiday once before and one agent waived the fee and the other didn’t.

I don’t think the restrictions will increase but who knows. I guess there’s no point stressing over it.

I didn’t want to vaccinate my 12 year old he’s had covid twice before and been fine. It didn’t feel right.

TakeYourFinalPosition · 23/02/2022 09:40

They’re unlikely to be obliged to move the holiday. You’d need to check the T&Cs before you book to see if they’d allow it, and if it’s chargeable. And your travel insurance terms; too.

The rest of it is hearsay, really, nobody knows. Even if we abandon all restrictions, there’s nothing to say Spain/Europe will, if things get bad. Hopefully we’re over the worst of this but it’s just a case of keeping your eye out (and teen DS being aware that he might severely limit travel options if countries don’t drop the requirement to be vaccinated).

Veryvversatile · 23/02/2022 09:43

Well they have just removed them, so with luck they will stay that way and things continue to improve. There is no way to predict how it's going to go, however, the past 2 summers seemed far more relaxed than the winter months in terms of restrictions.

Justkeeppedaling · 23/02/2022 10:03

We have a holiday booked for the summer and teen DS is unvaccinated. Completely his choice as he has needle phobia and is not worried about catching covid

Tell your DS that the vaccine is not just to protect him, it's to protect everyone he comes into contact with. His opinion is a very selfish one.

IsurviveonCoffeeandWinein2021 · 23/02/2022 10:05

No @Justkeeppedaling he is not selfish. It's not the responsibility of a child to protect others.

Op keep an eye out things are changing. Spain just dropped all tests for vaccinated people so I think by summer they will drop everything. Countries need the tourism.

BigSandyBalls2015 · 23/02/2022 10:07

@Justkeeppedaling didn't take long did it ..... yawn

UnmentionedElephantDildo · 23/02/2022 10:13

If you have not taken standard precautions, and the holiday could have gone ahead if you taken them, then flexibility might not extend to you

Look instead perhaps at getting insurance that covers this risk?

Because no crystal balls will tell you if/when a new variant will turn up let alone how transmissible or how severe/mild it will be, so no way to predict if or when counter measures might be needed

Justkeeppedaling · 23/02/2022 10:45

No @Justkeeppedaling he is not selfish. It's not the responsibility of a child to protect others

Why do we vaccinate babes in arms then??

For the good of society, and to protect the vulnerable - that's why.

Are you saying we should stop giving MMR and everything else until people reach 18?

IsurviveonCoffeeandWinein2021 · 23/02/2022 11:04

No that is to protect the child themselves from disease. People like you are really going to have a job on your hands readjusting your normal life.

s1h2o3na · 23/02/2022 11:09

@Justkeeppedaling

No @Justkeeppedaling he is not selfish. It's not the responsibility of a child to protect others

Why do we vaccinate babes in arms then??

For the good of society, and to protect the vulnerable - that's why.

Are you saying we should stop giving MMR and everything else until people reach 18?

we jab babes in arms for their OWN good ,all the childhood vaccs (with the exception of flu) are highly important to prevent significant harm to the child themselves ...please don't make the mistake of conflating the covid vacc with routine childhood vaccines. There are very good arguments for some children to have the Covid jab but please don't ever say a child is selfish for choosing not too.
UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea · 23/02/2022 11:21

I'm a firm vaccine supporter and my own 12 yo is vaccinated but previous posters are right. Children don't benefit health-wise from the covid vaccine as on the whole they are unlikely to be severely I'll from covid. It's an entirely different scenario than measles for example which could kill or permanently affect young children.

However, that may lead to some restrictions in travel etc. that are unavoidable. So that's your choice.

maddy68 · 23/02/2022 12:12

Spain's regulations have already changed haven't they?

UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea · 23/02/2022 12:35

@maddy68

Spain's regulations have already changed haven't they?

But no one knows what the situation will be in 3-5 months...

myrtilles · 23/02/2022 12:58

I think your ds needs to be encouraged to overcome his needle phobia as he will need injections at the dentist and blood tests at various points in his life even if he turns down all vaccinations. I would not book a foreign holiday with unvaccinated teens as there is more chance of it being disrupted by them picking up covid apart from the risk of rules changing.

Cookerhood · 23/02/2022 13:05

Children don't really benefit from the flu vaccine, it's to protect the vulnerable. No idea about Spain, OP. Things change all the time but the safest thing would be to get everyone up to date with their vaccinations.

Original poster
goldensilver · 23/02/2022 13:19

@Justkeeppedaling

We have a holiday booked for the summer and teen DS is unvaccinated. Completely his choice as he has needle phobia and is not worried about catching covid

Tell your DS that the vaccine is not just to protect him, it's to protect everyone he comes into contact with. His opinion is a very selfish one.

He has SEN and comes with it EXTREME anxiety over many things, especially sensory issues. I honestly feel fortunate that covid is not one of them.

Thanks for your helpful input though.

OP posts:
Juno22 · 23/02/2022 13:19

No-one can say what Spanish entry requirements in the summer will be. Currently you would be able to enter.

If they change the holiday company won't be obliged to move the holiday because you do not meet entry requirements, but up until now they have mostly been flexible. It's not guaranteed though, and as commercial pressures kick in more companies will go back to normal T&Cs, eg EasyJet are currently allowing changes to flights, but that flexibility ends on 31st March.

Hopefully things will all be fine for you.

Original poster
goldensilver · 23/02/2022 13:25

I should add I have taken him to all previous childhood vaccinations but this is the first time he's had to consent himself. I can't force him. He knows all about the reasons for vaccinations. He is on CAMHS extremely long waiting list for various anxieties so he is "getting help", but it's a waiting game.

Anyway didn't intend this to be bun fight about vacs. Just wondering what people think may happen in next few months.

Guess we'll just have to wait and see.

OP posts:
patritus · 23/02/2022 13:30

I think it's just too difficult to predict how things will be in the summer OP.
However, going by the last 2 years this does seem to be seasonal virus so there's better chance of it being ok than there is at this time of year

Xenia · 23/02/2022 13:58

Spain has decided currently to have much stricter rules on vaccinations than places like Mexico and Portugal. It is all so complex and constantly changing that last minute booked holidays might be safer.

It also remains complicated for us unvaccinated ones to return from the UK as you have to pay for a test abroad and 2 when you get home.

Wellbythebloodyhell · 23/02/2022 15:06

I am also hoping restrictions aren't increased again by Spain for teenagers as I'm also travelling their in summer with my unvaccinated teenagers, I'm OK with paying for them to test etc but keeping my fingers crossed that also gets dropped.

OP your dc isn't selfish for not wanting this vaccine ,nor should you have to justify his decision in any way

EasterIssland · 23/02/2022 15:59

@Justkeeppedaling did the op think about your opinion whether their ds should get vaccinated or not?
vulnerable are vaccinated, if they catch the virus they get priority pcrs and direct medicines to recover. they're getting a 4th vaccine.

I think the selfish one is yourself repeating your stupid mantra since March 2020.

EasterIssland · 23/02/2022 16:00

@goldensilver spanish here and i doubt very much that they'll put it back, for summer it tends to be more the "all welcome here" and during winter "everyone keep far away from my borders|

EasterIssland · 23/02/2022 16:01

@Justkeeppedaling

No @Justkeeppedaling he is not selfish. It's not the responsibility of a child to protect others

Why do we vaccinate babes in arms then??

For the good of society, and to protect the vulnerable - that's why.

Are you saying we should stop giving MMR and everything else until people reach 18?

mmr is for their kids protetction as well as a babes as you call them can die from any of those 3 illnesses. Do you have the number of babies that have died from covid?
OchonAgusOchonOh · 23/02/2022 16:08

@IsurviveonCoffeeandWinein2021

No that is to protect the child themselves from disease. People like you are really going to have a job on your hands readjusting your normal life.
Rubella part of the MMR is to protect others, not the vaccinated child, so there is definitely precedence for children having vaccines to protect others.

You could argue giving the rubella one as part of the MMR is way more unethical than pushing the covid one as the only way to get vaccinated for measles and mumps in the public system is via the MMR.