Family Teenage Ski Holidays Under Threat
27th November 2021
Last modified on December 1st, 2021
UK 12-15 years old cannot get double vaccinated, but many ski nations need them to be in order for them to get a health pass. The pass gives them access to access the ski lifts and other resort facilities. Otherwise it is multiple testing in some countries or perhaps not being able to use lifts at all in others.
Skiing for adults is generally simple across Europe, as long as you fully vaccinated.
You can currently travel and ski.
Children under 12 with jabbed adults are also fine.
However in the ski nations there are varying rules that can mean teenagers without a second jab need a negative test either to enter the country or access restaurants and ski lifts.
In Austria even a negative test is currently not enough under its current lockdown rules.
These though are set to be lifted on December 12th in time for the start of the winter season for most resorts.
Children in the UK aged 12-to-15 can only receive a single jab and therefore do not count as fully vaccinated.
They also have no simple way of proving they have recovered from Covid-19.
Obtaining a certificate showing recovery from a private clinic can cost hundreds of pounds.
There are calls from the UK snowsports industry to allow children aged 12-15 to be able to get two jabs.
Let our Families go on holiday @sajidjavid with access to NHS-app vax status for ages 12+, and 2nd jab if they want it >> we are FAR behind EU on this and UK families are losing their holidays! #SaveTravelJobs @RishiSunak
— Sno (@SNO) November 26, 2021
“On teenage jabs we’re far behind the EU, who have been double vaxing all 12+ since the summer, so the UK govt knows we’ll have to catch up, if they’re to stop penalising families going on holiday,” said the managing director of SNO, Richard Sinclair, to PlanetSKI.
“Many are pushing their February half-term plans back to the Easter school holidays to give things more time to settle down.”
It is perhaps no bad thing, as half-term is almost sold out.
Image © PlanetSKI
France is the latest nation to announce a health passport is needed to access the ski lifts.
Anyone over the age of 12 will need to provide proof that they are fully vaccinated or have had one jab and recovered from Covid-19 within the past 180 days.
Or received a negative result in a recent test.
It could mean families paying £100s for multiple tests while on holiday.
Visitors to France are typically charged €22 (£18.67) for an antigen tests or €44 (£37.33) for a PCR test.
Either test type works for the health pass.
An added concern for parents is if their teenager actually tests positive while on a ski holiday.
Image © PlanetSKI
In Austria the current rules are even stricter.
Unvaccinated travellers are banned from public spaces including cable cars, Christmas markets and apres ski venues unless they can provide proof of a recent infection.
Negative Covid tests are no longer accepted.
In Italy children aged 12-15 must be regularly tested.
An antigen or PCR test is valid for 48-hours.
In Switzerland entry to indoor venues is only allowed for those who are fully jabbed, have received a negative test result or recovered.
Mask are compulsory once inside.
A pass is not needed to access ski lifts though masks are required on gondolas and cable cars.
We have endeavoured to ensure all information is correct to the best of our knowledge at time of posting, but do check with the relevant national and local authorities.
All the rules and regulations are subject to change at short notice.
Image © PlanetSKI
