Families forced to cancel half-term holidays because of ‘restrictive’ Covid pass rules

Families have been forced to cancel half-term holidays because of “restrictive” vaccine passport demands.

Children aged 12-15 who are fully vaccinated are unable to use the NHS app, and therefore cannot access their vaccination record.

Countries including France, Italy and Spain require over-12s to be double vaccinated or face additional restrictions compared to their vaccinated parents, such as quarantine or daily testing.

Families can request a NHS Covid Pass letter for double jabbed under-16s, from the NHS 119 helpline or online, which contains a QR code that can be used for travel.

But children who have had one dose and are not yet eligible for their second, for example because they have had a recent Covid infection, have been left in limbo and are “effectively grounded” from travel, families and MPs have said.

Steve Brine, the Conservative MP for Winchester & Chandler’s Ford, raised the issue in the Commons this week and called on the Government to “urgently find a way” for teenagers to be treated with “fairness and parity”.

“The Prime Minister knows our young people have missed out on so much, and now they face punishment for doing the right thing when it comes to travel,” he said, and added that the letter process was “cumbersome”.

Boris Johnson agreed with the MP it should be “as simple as possible for young people” and said that the Health Secretary would be making a statement “in the next few days” on the issue. A “digital solution” to the Covid pass for 12 to 15-year-olds was due to be rolled out at the beginning of this year.

‘We’re pulling our hair out over this’

The Telegraph has spoken to families who have been forced to cancel their holidays, or are on the brink of doing so, after spending weeks trying to secure proof of their children’s vaccination status.

Andy O’Brien, from East Sussex, had booked a ski holiday to France with his wife and two children for the February half-term, which would have been their first trip away in two years.

But they have been forced to cancel the holiday after Mr O’Brien was “pulling his hair out” trying to get documents proving his 14-year-old daughter’s vaccination status.

After contracting Covid in October, his daughter’s first dose was delayed until Jan 6 and he has spent two weeks since trying to get a copy of her vaccination status and proof of the prior infection.

“But every angle I’ve tried to take, [calling] 119 and the doctor, [they] have said you can’t have a certificate for one vaccine, you can’t have a QR code because you’re not deemed as fully vaccinated,” he said.

In France, a person is deemed fully vaccinated if it is one week after their first jab and they had a prior infection. “But the UK Government is not giving out that proof,” Mr O’Brien said.

“I don’t understand why the Government has forgotten about this, or not even bothered with it, I don’t understand why it’s so restrictive for someone over 12.”

Unvaccinated children over the age of 12 can travel to France without quarantining if their parents are vaccinated, but they will need to present a negative test result to enter the country.

But, once in France, those aged 12 to 17 with just one vaccination, and without proof of prior infection, will not be considered “fully vaccinated”. They will need to pay for daily tests to qualify for a pass sanitare which is mandatory to access ski lifts, restaurants and other services.

Other European countries also mandate over-12s to be fully jabbed. To enter Spain, children over the age of 12 will need to show proof of having two doses at least 14 days prior to arrival.

In Italy, 12 to 17-year-olds who are not fully vaccinated with two doses can enter the country with vaccinated parents, but will not be able to receive a “super green pass” permitting access to restaurants, hotels, ski lifts and public transport.

Julius Oliveti, from Northamptonshire, is due to travel to Italy for a skiing holiday with his wife and two sons during the half-term break.

His 13-year-old son had Covid in October and has not yet been vaccinated, as he had to wait three months following the infection.

“The problem is, you can’t get the full vaccinations in time to then travel,” he told The Telegraph.

“What we really wanted is for the NHS App to be able to have minors on there with a proof of recovery, with a QR code, that would be problem solved.”

The family have been unable to get a letter proving his son’s recovered status and they’ve set a deadline for the end of January to decide whether they will need to cancel the trip.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Travellers should check the travel advice for their country of destination prior to departure as requirements may change. The vast majority of countries ask for proof of vaccination or a negative test for children rather than recovery passes.

“Children aged 12-15 can access an NHS Covid Pass travel letter if they are fully vaccinated.”