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Original poster

Are teenagers (12-15) going to get boosters?

42 replies

TheHorrorOfIt · 29/07/2022 15:48

I have just realised it is 7 months since my DD’s second jab; also that she won’t be covered as ‘fully vaxxed” to travel in October half-term (more than 270 days, at that point)

I’ve got a bit behind with where the vax programme is at; does anyone know what the govt plans are for giving this age range a third jab? I assume those countries currently requiring full vaccination or a PCR before departure will probably still have the same requirements then?

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 29/07/2022 15:52

Where are you going?
A lot of places only require over 18s to have a had a booster to travel there.

LovinglifeAF · 29/07/2022 15:55

Fully vaccinated by what standards?

Original poster
TheHorrorOfIt · 29/07/2022 15:56

@dementedpixie the Canaries - and as far as I can see Spain counts unboosted teens as unvaxxed?! So either a PCR or antigen test before departure

OP posts:
Original poster
TheHorrorOfIt · 29/07/2022 15:58

To clarify - we haven’t booked the Canaries yet; other option though would be southern Spain!

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 29/07/2022 16:00

That age group doesn't need a booster for Spain; only over 18s do:

If you are aged 12 to 17 and have not received the booster, but have received two doses of a two-dose vaccine or one dose of a single-dose vaccine approved for use by Spain, then at least 14 days must have passed since your last dose, to qualify as fully vaccinated. You continue to qualify as fully vaccinated more than 270 days after your last dose and do not need to show proof of having received a booster to travel.

Original poster
TheHorrorOfIt · 29/07/2022 16:03

dementedpixie · 29/07/2022 16:00

That age group doesn't need a booster for Spain; only over 18s do:

If you are aged 12 to 17 and have not received the booster, but have received two doses of a two-dose vaccine or one dose of a single-dose vaccine approved for use by Spain, then at least 14 days must have passed since your last dose, to qualify as fully vaccinated. You continue to qualify as fully vaccinated more than 270 days after your last dose and do not need to show proof of having received a booster to travel.

Thanks yes - it’s the 270 days bit that’s a problem - because by October, it will be more than that since the second jab IYSWIM? Her last dose was in December!

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 29/07/2022 16:06

But it says its still valid for more than 270 days - are you reading it wrongly?

Bindayagain · 29/07/2022 16:07

OP that says a teen continues to be covered after 270 days, not that it expires then

dementedpixie · 29/07/2022 16:07

Only over 18s need the booster to be fully vaccinated.

Under 18s only need 2 vaccines and are still counted as fully vaccinated even if 270 days have passed.

Original poster
TheHorrorOfIt · 29/07/2022 16:09

dementedpixie · 29/07/2022 16:06

But it says its still valid for more than 270 days - are you reading it wrongly?

Oh I am! Sorry Flowers

It’s oddly worded but I guess trying to differentiate from the same situation for adults? Otherwise I can’t see why they would mention 270 days. But that is good news! Thank you for helping me understand Grin

OP posts:
Bindayagain · 29/07/2022 16:12

😂

loulouljh · 29/07/2022 16:13

Madness to vaccinate a teenager let alone get them boosted. Madness indeed.

Bindayagain · 29/07/2022 16:32

Yawn.
I also take it you're not planning on having lots of holidays?

Original poster
TheHorrorOfIt · 29/07/2022 16:48

loulouljh · 29/07/2022 16:13

Madness to vaccinate a teenager let alone get them boosted. Madness indeed.

Well, I am happy with my choices - and in any case my DD is deemed medically competent to make her own decisions and is keenly pro-vax. As the daughter of a polio survivor, I am very glad about that!

OP posts:
loulouljh · 29/07/2022 20:10

Also daughter of a polio survivor! Very very different circumstances. But everyone makes their own choices and takes the consequences...

and re holidays, if aimed at me, just back from Greece and very nice it was too...

BloodyHellKen · 29/07/2022 21:52

I was under the impression that you can travel anywhere, at least in Europe, without any vaccinations now as long as you provide the negative recent test. Is this not the case in Spain ?

dementedpixie · 29/07/2022 22:17

But you need to pay for a private test to do that whereas if you're vaccinated you dont

Original poster
TheHorrorOfIt · 30/07/2022 06:46

dementedpixie · 29/07/2022 22:17

But you need to pay for a private test to do that whereas if you're vaccinated you dont

Yes - and tbh it’s not the money (which you would just have to factor into the overall cost of the holiday); it’s the uncertainty over whether the test would actually be negative! Cancelling at less than 24 hours, if you get the wrong result, doesn’t appeal at all…

So having established that her two vax will still be valid beyond the 270 days - providing of course that the requirements don’t change in the meantime - that is all good. I do think it would be sensible to get all school kids offered another jab for next term, given the expected Sept/Oct wave, but that seems unlikely as it’s not being talked about (or is it?)

OP posts:
BloodyHellKen · 30/07/2022 09:36

So it's not about the cost and you don't have a problem travelling while positive as long as there are no symptoms ? And this is why you think teens should be boosted to avoid holidays being cancelled with positive, asymptomatic tests ?

Bindayagain · 30/07/2022 10:15

How many adults are testing before their holidays "just in case" with the risk of it all being cancelled?

TimandGinger · 30/07/2022 10:38

This reply has been deleted

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Bindayagain · 30/07/2022 12:49

My teen doesn't have myocarditis but he does have increased protection against being off with covid during his exam year (or his teacher being off).

Original poster
TheHorrorOfIt · 30/07/2022 13:48

BloodyHellKen · 30/07/2022 09:36

So it's not about the cost and you don't have a problem travelling while positive as long as there are no symptoms ? And this is why you think teens should be boosted to avoid holidays being cancelled with positive, asymptomatic tests ?

Don’t be obtuse (or silly) - the reason why it would be great for teenagers to be offered another jab is to minimise disruption of yet another school year (and of course to help prevent them becoming ill with Covid)

The side product of them being able to travel without restrictions in the same way as everyone else would be an extra added bonus

OP posts:
BloodyHellKen · 30/07/2022 17:30

Sorry, silly me. I thought this thread was all about holidays as per your original post. I hadn't realised it was really about reducing disruption in education 😒😂

Nerdygirl · 31/07/2022 10:50

Glad to see there are some people on here with common sense . All the stats shows that it doesn’t stop them catching it so the argument about school disruption is nonsense . And the fact the rules are different from 12-17 about boosters versus adults shows the lunacy of the rules.

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