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Original poster

New Italy rules for 12-15 year olds

43 replies

Whitelight22 · 04/01/2022 23:49

Aaaggghhh, where do I start. Please bear with me.

So we (two fully boostered adults and two DC's plus lots of family and friends) supposed to fly to Italy on 5/2/22. Youngest is under 12 so no issues there. Eldest is 13, had 1 x Pfizer in October would have been due 2nd dose mid January but tested positive on 26/12/21.

Italy require us all to have a 'super green pass' which myself, DH and DC2 all meet requirements for. For the 13yo DC1 to have a super green pass he needs 2 x doses of a vaccine, (which is now impossible given that he can't have a vaccine within 28 days of a positive test) or a Covid recovery certificate.

Hugely frustrating quandary for 12-15yo's - if he was 16+ he could access Covid recovery certificate via the NHS app and although T&T will send out a hard copy of vaccine pass to 12-15 yo's they do not send a hard copy of a Covid result/recovery certificate. Why?! 🤷🏼‍♀️

What are my options does anyone know? Google just gives me lots of adverts for private GP services who will charge around £100 for the recovery certificate. I will have to pay this if it's the only option but would love to know if anyone been in this situation and what you did?

OP posts:
Original poster
Whitelight22 · 05/01/2022 07:42

Anyone?

OP posts:
Wigeon · 05/01/2022 08:19

First suggestion: you can get the NHS App from age 13 - info here. I’m not certain that you can then see your Covid recovery status, but worth trying.

Second, your DS’s own GP might agree to provide you with proof of his Covid infection - I’d be very surprised if they’d charge £100, I think £25 would be more likely. GPs aren’t obliged to do this but can choose to.

Pinkandpurplehairedlady · 05/01/2022 08:22

We just had similar for my daughter. She was unable to get vaccinated as she’s not long had covid. We did fork out for a private GP to do the certificate of recovery as our GP isn’t doing them. It was quite straight forward and was accepted in Italy.

Original poster
Whitelight22 · 05/01/2022 09:20

Ah thank you guys. I've just spoken to our GP and they are happy to help however they can. They can do me a confirmation letter but it won't contain the QR code that they seem to want in resort. I probably need to confirm with Crystal ski

OP posts:
Original poster
Whitelight22 · 05/01/2022 19:45

For anyone who stumbles across this looking for answers my MP has responded advising that my GP Can assess my child for capacity and grant access to the full NHS app which should allow him to view his covid passport. I have now requested this from the GP so 🤞🏻. After 2 hours on hold to crystal ski today I am planning to go in to TUI tomorrow to try and get some assurances that this will be enough.

OP posts:
Wistful977 · 09/01/2022 21:24

Thank you for posting this whitelight22. I wondered how you have got on? I'm trying to get this for my DS and struggling!

Original poster
Whitelight22 · 09/01/2022 21:36

Hi Wistful, the appointment with the GP is on the 20/1 so hoping it all works out. I went to TUI and they weren't able to tell me anything above and beyond what the MP said. They ddiy however say that they are hopeful that this is a grey area which the government are aware of and should he addressed asap x

OP posts:
Wistful977 · 09/01/2022 21:55

Thank you for your reply and I really hope that your GP can help. I have spoken to my surgery and they want to help but aren't too sure how to do this. Someone on another thread has said that their surgery has managed to do this so I am hopeful for us both!

stickygotstuck · 09/01/2022 22:01

Thanks for the update OP.

We couldn't visit family abroad at Christmas as for this very reason. 13yo DC got covid too close to flying for me to be able to work out our options. GP was most unhelpful.

Good luck!

stickygotstuck · 09/01/2022 22:02

GP was not helpful

Jenmeg2022 · 10/01/2022 11:17

@Whitelight22

Hi Wistful, the appointment with the GP is on the 20/1 so hoping it all works out. I went to TUI and they weren't able to tell me anything above and beyond what the MP said. They ddiy however say that they are hopeful that this is a grey area which the government are aware of and should he addressed asap x
Hi Whitelight22 - just reading your thread as I'm in the same situation. My GP is coming back to me on whether I can get access to my 12yr NHS record via the NHS App - do you know if, assuming they grant access, it will contain a QR code?
DorotheaDiamond · 10/01/2022 11:22

Sorry I think your mp is wrong - dd has full access to nhs app (can see all the same medical records as I can on mine) but when she selects Covid pass she gets the message “not available to under 16”

Jenmeg2022 · 10/01/2022 11:39

@DorotheaDiamond

Sorry I think your mp is wrong - dd has full access to nhs app (can see all the same medical records as I can on mine) but when she selects Covid pass she gets the message “not available to under 16”
Gosh it's all so confusing isn't it! If a parent has 'proxy access/linked profile access' on their own NHS app to view their child's record (which is different to the child having their own NHS app), can they view the vaccination status then?
balzamico · 10/01/2022 15:50

I haven't rtft yet but this site could be helpful
italygreenpass.com/faq/

This site FAQs etc are really good x

Original poster
Whitelight22 · 10/01/2022 16:41

So i think normally the vivid recovery certificates only available of 16+. My son also has the NHS app but gets the same error message when attempting to access a Covid pass. My understanding is that the GP can 'unlock it' to allow him to obtain the QR codes. I have been on hold to Crystal for 3 hours 32 minutes and counting. Will update if I learn anything new

OP posts:
DorotheaDiamond · 10/01/2022 17:17

@Whitelight22

If the gp can do that I will be gobsmacked!!! Please update us!

Direct or proxy access both show vaccines done along with all other childhood vaccinations but neither gives QR code

Original poster
Whitelight22 · 10/01/2022 20:18

Been scouring the Snowheads forum and there are a few bits information:

  • In France apparently pharmacies were allowing you to take NHS test and trace results and for 35euro they would authorise it and generate you a QR code.
  • In Italy apparently you could go to the ski lift pass office in the morning and they would manually check evidence and authorise the pass for a set number of days.

I have also spoken to Crystal again after 4 hours on hold!!! They said that they have teenage travellers in Italy currently who are using GP letters and have not been experiencing issues. Although the gentleman was really sweet he couldn't give me any assurances but has now escalated it to management who will ring me back in the next 3-5 days. Really taking the joy out of my ski holiday ⛷️

OP posts:
DorotheaDiamond · 10/01/2022 20:37

We have been told by our hotel that no QR code means no entry to hotel (or ski pass) I know that isn’t actually the Italian law but who wants to gamble their holiday on arguing with people in Italian each day!

Iamblossom · 13/01/2022 15:50

Does anyone have any further clarity on this? There must be thousands of UK kids under 16 that are fully vaccinated that won't have a QR code to prove that.

Serenschintte · 13/01/2022 15:58

Maybe this website will help? www.italia.it/en/covid19

Iamblossom · 13/01/2022 16:09

Ah ok so the paper version does have a QR code...thankyou

frenchtoast22 · 13/01/2022 21:44

Sorry jumping on - anyone know what I can do about my 12 year old who had her first Vax in December and won't be due her second until March- after half term. She has just had COVID last week so PCR positive. What do I need to travel to France or even can I ski in Italy?

Iamblossom · 14/01/2022 07:59

@frenchtoast22

I can't comment on France but my niece is hoping to ski in Italy and is in the same boat. My sister is going to need to pay a private doctor to get her a recovery certificate. I assume, but I don't know, that that will have a QR code on in it to prove one vax.

You will need to check if kids with only one dose will be allowed on chair lifts and in restaurants.

Iamblossom · 14/01/2022 10:54

Got this from my travel company today:

As you’ve probably realised theres a lot of grey areas around covid and vaccine status for children, particularly the 12-15 year olds, we’re constantly trying to find out the latest and its frustratingly hard.
We have heard that it's possible to get your children added to your NHS profile on the NHS app so therefore you should be able to show their vaccine status that way.
Theres a link below with a little bit of guidance -

www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/nhs-app-help-and-support/linked-profiles-in-the-nhs-app/

We’ve had teenagers that have already been skiing this winter but that was before the change to ’super green’ pass in Italy.

They were able to get a letter by calling 119 but thats supposed to be accessible in the app now, here’s another link with some more information -

www.gov.uk/government/news/nhs-covid-pass-for-12-15-year-olds-for-international-travel

DorotheaDiamond · 14/01/2022 11:56

I have dd linked to my nhs app (she also has own access). She is double jabbed as of 2 days ago.

I can see her vaccinations listed along with all her others in her health record. As linked there is no place to look for a Covid pass.

Looking at her app again vaccine’s listed under health information. There is a Covid pass option but selecting it gives “you must be over 16” message.