Third Covid Vaccination - Travelling To Japan

[Ikemi]

An unusual set of circumstances and possibly bad timing on my part;

I accepted the first two Covid-19 vaccinations in order to minimize issues when travelling abroad. I didn't accept the booster shots, as I didn't think a third or fourth shot was necessary. My wife and I are hoping to travel to Japan in November - and Japan defines 'fully vaccinated' as someone with 3 doses of the vaccine.

Arranging a PCR test 72 hours before travelling is an option, but not one I'm willing to accept. If the test returns positive, that's several thousands lost! Travel insurance (or at least the ones we've been looking at!) will not cover such circumstances.

I've called my GP, who suggested I call 119 to book a vaccination. A chap on the other end said that bookings are not currently being taken, but there is a new dose being released next month. However you need to wait for your invitation to schedule an appointment. I imagine the majority of invitations will be sent to people 50-80+ years old and/or high risk; I'm neither!

Anyone know a solution to this? Would a private GP be able to help? We're looking to book flights soon, but it feels as though there is no guarantee I'll able to acquire a third dose. The worst case scenario is, we will have to delay our trip until 2024 ...

[Chromegrill]

The NHS no longer offers Covid boosters except to the most highly vulnerable in the population (based on age or being severely immunocompromised - probably looking at 75 plus now). Annoying if you aren't eligible and want to travel to a country still demanding three doses or a pre-arrival test. Given recent issues in China and Japan's elderly population I can see why they might have set stricter entry conditions than the UK but gives many younger British travellers the dilemma you are facing.

Bear in mind things can change rapidly and for any foreign travel you need to be aware of whatever the latest local requirements (if any) are. If they still insist on pre entry testing or three doses next November you will be looking at a pre entry test. (Private jabs are not available in the UK, and even if you had the opportunity to get a booster during foreign travel later this year, getting it recognised in a format acceptable to another foreign state may be a further headache.)

Althoigh you indicated you didn't want to go down that route, there are many Covid bolt on insurance policies available, eg Post Office or comparison websites so unless Japan's requirements change that would be something most younger healthy adults visiting Japan would need to consider to protect against the cost of an unexpected last minute cancellation as they won't otherwise be able to comply with the three jab schedule demanded by Japan (and probably a number of other countries).

[witko999]

Some irresponsible maniacs may or may not have used an old pcr test with a pdf editor multiple times without issue.

[Stephanie Plum]

Echo chromegrills post. The Spring campaign is for over 75s only and the immunosuppressed. Guessing you don't fall into either category. No private vaccinations available so you are going to have to go down the road of a test if that is what Japan requires at the time of travel.

(For the sake of clarity, I run a vaccination clinic at a community pharmacy so am speaking from a solid knowledge base.)

[anonymous-user]

I find it incredible that three years on from the first lockdown some countries still expect people to go through this pantomime.