COVID-19 VACCINATION
UK has proved to run one of the best COVID-19 vaccination programs in the world.
With the uptake of over 64% of the population being successfully vaccinated with one of the approved vaccine brands.
In between the United Kingdoms’ nations, Wales has achieved the most successful rate of just over 69% of its population fully vaccinated.
This brilliant uptake reduces the hospitalization and serious illness rates within our community and has become a model for many nations to follow.
Here we will answer a few questions about being fully vaccinated in the UK and the freedom of traveling abroad for your holidays during the pandemic.
CAN I TRAVEL WITHOUT ANY COVID-19 TESTING WHEN I’M FULLY VACCINATED?
This is still a matter of checking the country of your destination and its nation’s regulation plus your airline’s requirement. You can find country-specific entry requirements and the exact COVID-19 testing type that they require on the UK.GOV website. You can then choose and book the correct test.
If your destination just accepts proof of Vaccination. You can further download the NHS COVID Pass app here to provide the official proof of immunity.
CAN I TRAVEL TO THE UK IF I’M FULLY VACCINATED?
As per UK government regulation, an individual to be considered fully vaccinated must have had their final dose at least 14 days before their arrival to the UK.
To be eligible for this scheme, you need to provide that you have been vaccinated by one of the MHRA approved vaccine programs or an approved vaccination program in Europe or the USA. Not all overseas vaccines are considered to be recognized upon arrival.
Not being vaccinated or having a natural immunity ( past infection with COVID-19 Virus ) does not affect your entry to the United Kingdom. You must follow the rules in both cases of being vaccinated or not vaccinated and specific entry requirements before traveling to the UK.
CAN I SKIP QUARANTINING IF I’M FULLY VACCINATED?
If you are fully vaccinated from amber or green country, you do not need to quarantine, although you are required to purchase the day 2 testing and fill out your passenger locator form online before returning to the UK. You would need to provide proof of your vaccination from an amber country only before returning to the UK to be able to benefit from this exemption.
WHAT TYPE OF COVID-19 TEST IS REQUIRED BEFORE COMING BACK TO THE UK?
Your test can be a PCR test, A LAMP test, or an Antigen test if you are traveling to the UK.
You can purchase your Antigen test here. You can take this test with you abroad and 72 hours before retaining to the UK, you can perform your test and upload it onto the online system to receive your UK certified certificate in the UK.
The test must have an 80% sensitivity at vital loads above 100,000 copies/ml.
Three steps to come to the UK from Amber or Green countries if you are fully vaccinated with the approved vaccine are :
Purchase your return lateral flow test ( pre-travel antigen test )
Book your day 2 test either in-clinic or as a postal package.
Fill in your passenger locator form 48 hours before return to the UK
