Help/advice re travel for a just turned 18 year old who has not had time to have had both vaccines

svarennes

I have been looking at the weekly newsletter but cannot find the answer to my question, please could you help,

 My daughter has had her first vaccine jab and is aged 17,  the wait in-between jabs is currently 8 weeks,

 She will be travelling to Zante in Greece for 3 days for her 18th birthday, but will not have had her 2nd jab by this time as they will not let us have this before the 8 weeks,

 Because she will have turned 18 on travelling, does this mean she will not be able to go to bars etc as the guidelines I read say you need 2 jabs to do this?

 Also, on her return I can book her 2nd vaccine immediately but if she has to isolate we will have to wait before she can do this?

 She is supposed to also be going away camping for two days for her birthday on her return, would this mean she cannot do this?

 Is there anything I can do with respect to jabs or her having negative tests?

 It is looking like re the rules she may not be able to go on her 3 day trip for her 18th, but of course we would not be able to get a refund on her trip as it would be our choice to cancel re the having to isolate,

 Any advice/suggestions/help would be really gratefully received,

 The travel company were not helpful with advice and just said check the government website but this is confusing,

 Thank you so much,

Ben1989

I, personally, cannot give a definitive answer but it seems Greece are refusing to take risk with unvaccinated people in their hospitality industry and powers have been given on restaurants to enforce requesting vaccination info. 

Greece is highly reliant on tourism so it's a measure that makes sense to me.

No, your daughter must self-isolate upon return. Getting the vaccine is not a justifiable reason. Plus, you need 14 days from your second jab to get this exemption. 

To me you have two choices: go to Zante and have very restrictive enjoyment and miss the camping holiday. Or, don't go and delay until she is fully vaccinated or throw her a big '18 + 1' birthday holiday for her 19th and allows her camping holiday to go ahead.

When are you due to travel? Who are you flying with? Can you receive travel vouchers?

Thrugelmir

svarennes said:

 The travel company were not helpful with advice and just said check the government website but this is confusing,

 

The travel company are no wiser than you as to what rules the Greek Government will set at the time.  After 16 months. It's very apparent that the situation is very fluid and can change at any time. Bookings made are therefore at the individual's own risk.  

Sandtree

svarennes said:

Also, on her return I can book her 2nd vaccine immediately but if she has to isolate we will have to wait before she can do this?

 She is supposed to also be going away camping for two days for her birthday on her return, would this mean she cannot do this?

You can book it immediately but she has to self isolate for 10 days, unless you pay for a day 5 test in which case she can leave isolation after getting a clear day 5 result back (so realistically day 6 or 7) remembering also the day of return is day 0 not day 1.

The only acceptable reasons for leaving the home are to do your tests or if you are at risk of harm. Other exceptional circumstances will be considered on a case by case basis however something routine like vacination or birthday party arent going to cut the mustard.

They are fairly hot at phoning, turning up at your door unannounced etc to check you are there and the fine is currently up to £10,000 if you do decide that you dont care. 

MoJoeGo

I also have a family holiday coming up to a Greek island with an 18yo that's only on her 1st dose. It was always going to be a high risk strategy so I went with a reputable company that will allow refunds/credit, and also have pretty watertight insurance. 

I hope the same is true for you. Greece is heading south big time right now, almost as fast as the Balearics. No chance it will be included in tomorrow's "green honours list"...

silvercar

It is a grey area whether you can leave isolation in order to receive your vaccine. The legislation allows you to leave isolation:

"to obtain basic necessities, such as food and medical supplies for those in the same household (including any pets or animals in the household) where it is not possible to obtain these provisions in any other manner,"

Given that the vaccine is a medical supply and it is not possible to obtain it in any other manner, you could argue it is a reason to leave isolation.

lisyloo

silvercar said:

It is a grey area whether you can leave isolation in order to receive your vaccine. The legislation allows you to leave isolation:

"to obtain basic necessities, such as food and medical supplies for those in the same household (including any pets or animals in the household) where it is not possible to obtain these provisions in any other manner,"

Given that the vaccine is a medical supply and it is not possible to obtain it in any other manner, you could argue it is a reason to leave isolation.

I would argue that a vaccine is not a necessity (and you lost that word between sentence 2 and 3).
I know you are trying to be helpful but at the risk of a £10K fine it doesn't sound sensible to me.

sheramber

The purpose of isolation is to prevent possible transmission of the covid.

 Going for a vaccination is defeating the purpose and a potential spreading of the virus to those personnel particularly the person giving the vaccination.

  She can go on a camping trip without a vaccination as long as she has fulfilled the isolation requirement.

Ben1989

silvercar said:

It is a grey area whether you can leave isolation in order to receive your vaccine. The legislation allows you to leave isolation:

"to obtain basic necessities, such as food and medical supplies for those in the same household (including any pets or animals in the household) where it is not possible to obtain these provisions in any other manner,"

Given that the vaccine is a medical supply and it is not possible to obtain it in any other manner, you could argue it is a reason to leave isolation.

This absolutely cannot be argued. It's clear that this exclusion is for emergency medication that cannot wait. Urgent pain-relief, required prescriptions, emergency cut dressings. And obviously people need to eat so this is understandable. I would advise that the vaccine does not fall under this, under any circumstances. 

Anyway it's a pointless argument as the quarantine rules apply for people who have had both doses plus 14 days so she'll have to remain in quarantine regardless and 14 days brings her out of her quarantine period.

"from 19 July, arrivals who have been fully vaccinated with an NHS administered vaccine in the UK (plus 14 days), or are on a formally approved UK vaccine clinical trial, returning to England from amber list countries will no longer need to quarantine – passengers will need to provide proof of their vaccination status to carriers in advance of travel"

And just to add to the OP: I had test and trace call all of us each day. One day they called us twice. They have called my cousin and questioned why they could hear wind. She was in the garden and they threatened they'll be paying a visit. A colleague also had people unannounced knocking at his door. Do not think they'll just ignore you. They take it very seriously.

Westin

Agree with Ben1989.

If you have returned recently from an amber or red list country you should not be attending a vaccination centre or unit. 

In addition if anyone in your household is isolating you should not attend a centre and instead reschedule your vaccination appointment.

onashoestring

From gov.uk

“You should not attend a vaccine appointment if you are self-isolating, waiting for a coronavirus test or unsure if you are fit and well.”