Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps believes more and more countries are set to make Covid vaccines compulsory for those hoping to visit in the future. Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today show, he said: “I think double vaccination, full vaccination, is going to be a feature forevermore and most countries, probably all countries, will require full vaccination in order for you to enter.”
The transport minister also urged younger people to get both doses of their jab if they hope to jet off abroad.
“It’s important to understand that there are simply going to be things that you will not be able to do unless you’re double-vaccinated or have a medical reason not to be, including going abroad,” he told LBC.
“So actually there are good reasons if you’re perhaps in your twenties and you feel like ‘oh, this doesn’t really affect me’ — well, it is going to, because you won’t be able to leave the country.”
It comes following the UK’s decision to allow fully vaccinated people from the European Union (EU) and the US to enter without quarantine.
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In France, only fully-vaccinated travellers from the UK are permitted to enter without an essential reason.
In Spain, those who are not double-jabbed must provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test.
In the UK, the vaccine rollout is thought to be slowing since it opened up to younger age groups.
The latest figures reveal that fewer than 60 percent of 18-to-25-year-olds had received one dose of the vaccine in England.
On Wednesday, at the latest traffic light update, seven more nations were added to the green list, and four moved from red to amber.
“We are committed to opening up international travel safely, taking advantage of the gains we’ve made through our successful vaccination programme, helping connect families, friends and businesses around the world,” said Shapps in a statement following the announcement.
“While we must continue to be cautious, today’s changes reopen a range of different holiday destinations across the globe, which is good news for both the sector and travelling public.”
