Skiing in France in Feb half term?

[winterrabbit]

We have a provisional booking in Feb half term for me, DH, and 3 kids aged 13, 11 and 3. DH and I are double vaxxed and will have had booster by the time we go. Our 13 year old is not yet vaxxed due to potential health risks so trying to work out if he will be able to get a covid pass if he tests every day in the region. Not sure if they still allow this or if they will insist on the super covid pass like Italy. Does anyone know? There's also the issue of the travel ban on UK citizens. Is this expected to be lifted? All looking a bit too difficult really!

As per my previous message tweets attached

P.s. click on image of tweet to see full answer.

Email from French Consulate General attached as per my previous post (click on image to see full picture), email is spread over 2 images.

And finally 2 images showing a reply from the press office from the French Embassy, you might have to click on each image to see the whole page.

Thanks freckles20. Enjoy your holiday.

Could someone please clarify that we can still get the passé sanitaire for a 15 year old who has had Covid and one vaccination? So we wouldn't need to do the daily testing?

I've read too much online and can't figure it out! Wasn't sure if you could only enter France if you were double vax (12+)??

Thought this was a helpful graphic

Thanks @chalkyc2
I thought as much but the prob we have is the accessing the passé sanitaire for one teen who has had Covid and one vax. I want to ensure they can get the PS without the daily testing just in case they get a false positive.
Also what happens if they get a false postage on an antigen 24 hours before travel?!
I guess what I'm asking is if the recovery letter is enough to jump through the various hoops?!

@OhCobblers

Thanks *@chalkyc2* I thought as much but the prob we have is the accessing the passé sanitaire for one teen who has had Covid and one vax. I want to ensure they can get the PS without the daily testing just in case they get a false positive. Also what happens if they get a false postage on an antigen 24 hours before travel?! I guess what I'm asking is if the recovery letter is enough to jump through the various hoops?!

It's a bit of a minefield @OhCobblers!

So if DC (or you) get a positive test from your departure test (ie the one you take in UK

Sorry to intrude, but I thought this thread would have the answer. For the antigen test pre UK departure can we use a postal one where you post a picture of the results online and get a certificate, or does it need to be an ( much more expensive) in person one ?

I have heard the (England) 119 letter for under 16s does have a QR code @freckles20 do you have one? The issue arises for those who aren’t double jabbed or are trying to rely on recovery

@rookiemere absolutely everyone uses at home LFT. Technically there is a Q&A tucked in the Swiss guidelines that say you shouldn’t but I have not heard of anyone with problems at GVA and for France direct it’s definitely ok

*at home private LFT as described in your post I mean, obviously not NHS self tests

Thanks for confirming @abricotine .

@abricotine I may be wrong but I have heard and been told by 119 that their letter does not include a QR code.

It is very frustrating, but doesn't cause any issue here in the uk as people under 16 haven't been pushed to vaccinate, and are not included in any requirement to prove their vaccination status for anything at all.

Depending on your perspective I'd say that here it has been 'gently encouraged'. This feels quite different to approaches in other countries, and our government haven't looked past the end their noses to put a measure in place that allows young people to prove their vaccination status for travel.

A similar issue exists for a Covid recovery certificate for young people- again no QR code system is in place.

Even more frustrating is that initially vaccinations of 12-16 were only allowed to be done on schools. My son's school had their entire vaccination sessions cancelled three times, hence him not yet being eligible for a second jab as yet.

In our county private schools had their vaccination sessions first and only one was cancelled.

I'll try to get off my soap box now.

Just checking back in. Our trip is now not going ahead, as despite meeting French health pass guidance, our 19yo cannot travel with one dose of vaccine and very recent recovery certificate. It’s too soon for their second jab, so that’s that!

Email replies from Swiss and French authorities confirm the above, despite gov.uk guidance stating she CAN travel to France with one jab + recovery.

So frustrating to have such mixed messages.

Oh and Switzerland situation is especially galling. She meets THEIR definition of fully vaccinated but apparently the Swiss need you to qualify as fully vaccinated in your HOME country. And obviously uk don’t take recovery into account.

The situation for younger teenagers is particularly frustrating because many of them waited a long time for the offer of vaccination, took the offer of vaccination as soon as it was offered to them at school and yet they still find themselves unable to get a second (due to recent infection or the first was delayed by 3 months due to infection) or unable to prove it. 18+ may have made different choices but younger teens didn’t have the choice at all.

Quick q - for the pre 24 hour lateral flow . Is self administered ok? It doesn’t have to be done in clinic? We are transiting through Switzerland to France. I can’t see any mention of it anywhere. Thanks!

I answered this directly above:

absolutely everyone uses at home (private lab certified) LFT. Technically there is a Q&A tucked in the Swiss guidelines that say you shouldn’t but I have not heard of anyone with problems at GVA and for France direct it’s definitely ok

@abricotine

The situation for younger teenagers is particularly frustrating because many of them waited a long time for the offer of vaccination, took the offer of vaccination as soon as it was offered to them at school and yet they still find themselves unable to get a second (due to recent infection or the first was delayed by 3 months due to infection) or unable to prove it. 18+ may have made different choices but younger teens didn’t have the choice at all.

Thank you for understanding @abricotine.

Does anyone happen to know if the initial preflight test can be used for a pass Sanitare too?

We have booked a preflight PCR for 5pm the day before we fly. If it is negative I'm not sure if it could be used for my son to get a pass sanitaire too? I realise it would only be valid for 24 hours but we fly very early and it would mean he is covered when we arrive in France and until 5pm that day.

I hope that makes sense! I can't work out how I might be able to get an answer to this one!

@freckles20 anecdotally it often was allowed for the first stay by hoteliers but it is not officially part of the passe sanitaire. Also since the tightening up of rules there are a shortage of examples because France only opened up to the British since the school holidays ended.

That’s really frustrating @SqueakingTiger we too have decided to cancel and try move our flights for the third time to next year due to having a teenager one vac, recovered covid but will struggle to get 2nd jab in time. I can’t cope with the stress of meeting all the requirements and our youngest who has anxiety anyway. I was feeling so sad watching ski Sunday at the weekend. So booked a couple of camping pod trips instead for the bank hols. Not the same at all but something else to look forward to.

Thank you!

I really feel for you with kids that aren’t vaccinated due to timing issues. So frustrating.

Mine are all vaccinated as we’re in Scotland and were quite quick with it (and luckily didn’t catch Covid!) however I’m so confused with all the passes etc.. as I’ll have a 18,17,17,15!! Hopefully by 3 weeks time it will be streamlined and more guidance given on the app.

Gosh abricotine I hadn’t even thought about the first night hotel stay. Thanks for the reminder. We are driving so stopping off en route for the night. Don’t arrive in France until quite late so not sure how we will play that one .