Second jab optional for recovered Covid patients travelling to countries where 'one is not enough'

RESIDENTS in Spain who have recovered from Covid in the last six months and have been given one jab instead of two can request a second dose if they plan to travel abroad, health authorities have confirmed.

Although most EU countries consider a person to be 'fully vaccinated' if they have had one of the usual two doses due to having caught the virus less than six months previously and later been given the all-clear – given that going through Covid generates antibodies and these combined with one vaccine dose provides the same level of immunity as a double-jabbed person who has never had the virus – not all countries worldwide take the same stance.

The EU 'Covid Pass', which can be downloaded or printed, gives vaccine dates and states 'immunisation complete' after the second dose – and also states this where the holder has recovered from the virus within the previous six months and had a single jab on top.

But a number of Spaniards in this situation have said they were denied boarding when travelling to certain non-EU companies, because their 'Covid Pass' only gave one vaccine date.

Countries mentioned include the USA, the UK, and in another case, a couple travelling on a Caribbean cruise.

Those travelling from Spain to the UK with only one jab due to having recovered from Covid less than six months before have not been denied boarding or entry to the country, but have been forced to quarantine for 10 days and pay for two tests, one on the second day after arrival and another on day eight.

Since September, the Greater Madrid region has been offering a second dose as a precaution to the under-65s, and now all other regions plan to do so.

In Madrid, those affected just need to turn up at the Isabel Zendal hospital, the Madrid Medical College or the WiZink Centre, without appointment, but showing their travel documents with the date of arrival in the other country specified.

Those who had planned to travel in summer tended to be affected, since until Madrid launched its second vaccines for recovered Covid patients under 65 in September, travellers in this situation had been saying they were being refused a double jab, meaning they had no way of meeting the requirements for entry to where they wanted to go on holiday.

EU countries, given that all of these accept the European 'Covid Pass' as proof of full immunisation, all consider a person who has recovered from Covid less than six months earlier and has had one jab to be 'completely vaccinated', but individual member States may well change these criteria if cases rise and pressure grows on hospital facilities.

Regional health authorities have urged anyone who has had Covid and one dose to make an appointment with their local health centre for a second jab if they are planning to leave the country over the festive season, and to check entry requirements for other countries in terms of vaccines.

Some nations consider 'fully vaccinated' to mean that at least 14 days have passed between the final dose and the date of travel – the UK is one of these.

Where Covid contagion is recent, the patient will only be given the second jab once their mandatory period of self-isolation is over and as long as their health situation allows – but they will not have to wait a month after catching the virus, as was originally stated for the first jab. 

Clearly, those who have caught Covid and plan to go for a second dose will need to have tested negative before doing so.

A second jab for recovered Covid patients who have downloaded their European 'Covid Pass' and which shows they are fully immunised is not essential for the general population, only those planning to travel overseas.

This is very likely in the next few weeks, among non-Spaniards living in Spain and intending to spend the festive season with family and friends in their native countries, and also among Spaniards themselves who are travelling to see family living abroad.

The UK is home to an estimated quarter of a million Spanish nationals, many of whom emigrated during the financial crisis to seek work and have since settled there long-term or permanently.

Anyone who falls into this 'Covid recovery loophole' needs to get in touch with their local health centre, regional health authority, or both, to find out where and how they can get a second jab.