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Covid

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Original poster

What country can I travel to for a Covid vaccination for my 5-year old?

82 replies

unim · 29/04/2023 23:28

She isn't allowed to have it here, because she was born in September - if she had been born two weeks earlier in August she would be able to have it here, but children who have turned 5 since September are not eligible.

Is there any European country that offers Covid vaccination to 5-11 year olds, where we can just walk in and don't have to be residents of that country? I want to get her vaccinated.

Not interested in debate or in talking about why I'd like her vaccinated - just any information on where we can get it done, please.

OP posts:
ThaiDye · 03/05/2023 14:00

It's not in the UK but Thailand does offer it from age 6 months. Tourists have to pay a minimal fee (about 20 quid). Adults can get boosters every 4 months, choice of Pfizer, Moderna, Astra Zeneca.

ThaiDye · 03/05/2023 14:01

Sorry I meant "not in the EU"!!

bellswithwhistles · 03/05/2023 14:03

Dear god. No words.

FlounderingFruitcake · 03/05/2023 14:25

Zorilla · 03/05/2023 00:38

My 5 year old had it about a month ago (October birthday). Worried now from your post that we won't be able to get her the second vaccination in a couple of months...

We had her vaccinated purely to make travel to the US easier.

Not sure if you’ve seen that the US covid vaccine requirement for travel is being lifted end of next week? And that even if you’re off in days then it’s just a form where you tick a box to say exempt as under 18. Obviously if you may want her vaccinated for other reasons and that’s totally your choice but it’s absolutely not necessary for US travel!

GG1986 · 03/05/2023 14:38

DontMakeMeShushYou · 03/05/2023 00:10

The Covid vaccine just helps to reduce the severity of the symptoms if you contract Covid. It won't stop you from passing it on so it won't protect your CEV family member.

It would be much more effective to simply do a LFT prior to each visit and wear masks.

This.

Littlepiglet123 · 03/05/2023 14:40

Get a grip for ffs. It's not available to a 5 year old for a very good reason.

mummydoris2006 · 03/05/2023 15:23

This is not a dig at you at all OP, as she is 5 you are responsible for making decisions regarding you DD's health and obviously do what you feel is best for her.
I was a Health Care Professional and very much for the covid vaccines, especially being on the shielding list and nearly losing my DM to covid. Both myself and DH had all boosters etc however our DD chose not to. At 15 I felt she was informed and mature enough to decide on her own body!
I cannot tell you how relieved I am that she made that choice, my DH suffered a massive Heart Attack in 2022 and I suffered 2 x strokes this year. There is no plausible reason for these, although I have underlying health conditions these wouldn't be seen as being contributors towards a stroke. Vaccination links have been mentioned numerous times to us both in hospital and subsequent specialist clinics we have to attend.
Ultimately, you have to do what is best for your family but I wanted to give you the perspective of someone that hasn't always been anti-vax.

Backwithanotheroneofthoseblockrockingbeats · 03/05/2023 15:45

We all now know that the vaccine does not stop transmission. It has been public knowledge for a very long time.

Why on Earth would you travel to another country to seek a vaccine that won't help your relative at all when all you really need to do is test before you see them?

The mind boggles for some people.

Alex1992 · 03/05/2023 17:25

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YouveGotAFastCar · 03/05/2023 17:32

trying29 · 03/05/2023 10:52

Austria you dont need ID to get it done there

You need proof of residency for Austria.

I suspect you'll need proof of residency for most, if not all, of the EU.

Thailand or the US are the two that get touted as being easiest to go for vaccinations - but I would check that it will do what you need it to, before you do it.

trying29 · 03/05/2023 17:44

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This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

And we all know natural immunity doesn’t exist otherwise we wouldn’t all keep catching it!

Nousernamesleftatall · 03/05/2023 17:56

Actually the BMj I believe published a study that showed natural immunity is superior than vaccines but if you have been vaccinated it overrides your natural immunity from the virus.

Nousernamesleftatall · 03/05/2023 17:57

*The vaccines override your natural immunity.

loulouljh · 03/05/2023 18:01

of course natural immunity exists!!! Otherwise we would all be dead! I would echo other posters...I cannot fathom why someone would travel abroad to get an injection which will do nowt (at best) for a little kid who will have had covid or been exposed to it multiple times....I cannot get my head around his.

trying29 · 03/05/2023 21:04

loulouljh · 03/05/2023 18:01

of course natural immunity exists!!! Otherwise we would all be dead! I would echo other posters...I cannot fathom why someone would travel abroad to get an injection which will do nowt (at best) for a little kid who will have had covid or been exposed to it multiple times....I cannot get my head around his.

That’s absolute bollocks. If natural immunity existed then we would see a downturn in covid numbers. Which isn’t the case at all. The govt are just turning a complete blind eye to its very existence.
we have absolutely no idea of the long term effects of multiple covid infections but recent studies are showing that it’s causing more and more cardio issues and vascular issues, and the WHO just released data saying that 1 in 10 infections leads to long Covid. Why would you not choose to give your child at least some protection from this? That’s what I can’t fathom! We vaccinate against far less dangerous diseases, why not Covid. It’s mad

loulouljh · 03/05/2023 21:08

So there is no natural immunity and some poor kid needs to travel around the world to get a jab....er right. crack on.

Yummymummy2020 · 03/05/2023 21:15

No advice op as not sure when you are from uk but I really do hope you can find a way to get it. We waited so long to get our little ones done, and I was so glad when they were finally allowed get it.

Grimbelina · 03/05/2023 21:42

We have absolutely no idea of the long term effects of multiple covid infections but recent studies are showing that it’s causing more and more cardio issues and vascular issues, and the WHO just released data saying that 1 in 10 infections leads to long Covid. Why would you not choose to give your child at least some protection from this? That’s what I can’t fathom! We vaccinate against far less dangerous diseases, why not Covid. It’s mad

trying29 but the vaccination doesn't actually protect you all that well or for that long from infection. Unlike many other vaccines, you will still get an infection but it will probably be milder.

We all hoped originally that the vaccine would prevent infection but it hasn't turned out like that. It also seems that the immunity from a previous infection is pretty effective for a period of time (which varies from person to person).

All those cardio and vascular issues are with us now whether we vaccinate or not and whether we like it or not. People who are vaccinated are still catching it and getting Long Covid etc.

Zorilla · 03/05/2023 22:18

We never got it for entry, it was so that we don't have to worry about being refused entry into anywhere indoors, as used to be the case in NYC for anyone 5 or over. All towns and cities had their own rules during COVID and I didn't/don't fancy checking all the rules for each town individually. It's different than the UK, here our rules were basically the same across the whole of England. I'd rather she was just vaccinated so we don't have to worry about that aspect of it now or in the future. DD is a US citizen so we do travel there most years. Last time we went was December 2021, so I am well aware of travel rules and how varied the local rules were between towns.

Not sure why poster upthread was saying it is irresponsible to get vaccinated when the WHO don't recommend it - my DD was vaccinated at a local NHS clinic. We even had a letter inviting her to be vaccinated when she turned 5.

FromEden · 03/05/2023 23:35

Previous infection confers just as much, or more, protection against severe disease as vaccination, and protects against infection for months. This protection declines, as does that provided by vaccination, but it declines at a slower rate. If you've had COVID, and most people have at this stage, experts now agree you're as good as vaccinated. Not sure why people are trying to deny this at this stage? It's well known.

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/natural-immunity-protective-covid-vaccine-severe-illness-rcna71027

Past Covid infection as protective as vaccination against severe illness and death, study finds

The immunity generated from an infection was found to be “at least as high, if not higher” than that provided by two doses of an mRNA vaccine.

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/natural-immunity-protective-covid-vaccine-severe-illness-rcna71027

FromEden · 03/05/2023 23:39

Seems like my own and DDs natural immunity is still going strong one year after having COVID anyway. No repeat infections as yet.

It's highly unlikely that vaccine passports will return so there is no point in anyone getting the shot just to be able to travel. Some people just can't let go can they

EconomyClassRockstar · 03/05/2023 23:55

Zorilla · 03/05/2023 01:27

Not for entry, but they were requiring proof of vaccination for entry into restaurants etc in NYC, for example.

Show quote history

Seriously, nobody cares about Covid here anymore. I couldn't even tell you where my covid certificate is. There is zero requirement for entry to anything. It's back to normal.

EconomyClassRockstar · 04/05/2023 00:02

And Op, I am fully pro vaccination for all my kids but I wouldn't vaccinate an under 5 at this point and just test at regular intervals so they can see their vulnerable family member. Just remember, they are also capable of bringing in the average flu, cold etc which are getting worse because young kids haven't had the same exposure to previous generations.

hopsalong · 04/05/2023 00:08

I think you have to trust here that the NHS has your child's interest at heart. Most importantly, your responsibility as a parent is to your child, not to an elderly relative, and traipsing about across Europe in search of a vaccine that she can't be given in this country (for good reasons) is not putting her health first.

We have a lot of problems with our healthcare system but child vaccination (other than problems with uptake) isn't among them. Our policy on chickenpox vaccination, for example, is very sensible.

PollyPeptide · 04/05/2023 01:04

trying29 · 03/05/2023 10:52

Austria you dont need ID to get it done there

But surely they must track people to make sure they're not having repeated injections, for example? And that seems quite dangerous that they don't know their medical histories nor store information about injections/treatment.