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READER QUESTIONS

Reader question: I’ve had Covid-19 and one jab in France – can I avoid quarantine in UK?

From Sunday, August 8th, fully vaccinated people will be able to travel from France to the UK without having to quarantine - though certain rules and restrictions remain in place.

Reader question: I've had Covid-19 and one jab in France - can I avoid quarantine in UK?
Photo by Denis Charlet / AFP

Reader question: I’ve had Covid-19 in France and since then have had one dose of the vaccine, which counts as fully vaccinated here, so this means I can avoid quarantine in the UK?

Unfortunately there are different definitions of what “fully vaccinated” means on either side of the Channel.

The British government’s strict definition of “fully vaccinated” is that it means having two injections of a double-dose vaccine, such as Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or AstraZeneca, or one injection of the single-dose Johnson&Johnson – while France and the EU also consider those who have recovered from the virus and who have had a single dose of any vaccine to be fully protected.

The same applies to people who had different vaccines for the two doses – in France this is considered perfectly normal, but the UK government insists that you are not ‘fully vaccinated’ unless both your doses were of the same brand.

Since June, vaccine test centres across France have routinely carried out a pre-vaccination blood test to see if people coming for their first injections are carriers of coronavirus antibodies. The test shows within 15 minutes if that person has had Covid-19, even if they were asymptomatic and did not know they were ill.

In the event of a positive test, the appointment for the second dose is cancelled, with that person considered fully protected after the ‘booster’ vaccine dose.

These people have been able to get a health pass in France and as a result an EU Covid Certificate which essentially shows they are considered to have the same level of immunity as someone who has had two doses.

The pass will say “vaccination 1 of 1” and “vaccine completed” to show that it’s a considered a full course.

And France is not the only country with this policy. Germany and other countries in Europe also consider someone to be fully vaccinated if they have had one jab after recovering from Covid.

READ ALSO How to book that ‘Day Two’ Covid-19 test if you’re travelling from France to the UK

This has led to some confusion over whether those in France who have been ill with coronavirus, recovered and had a booster injection can travel to the UK without having to quarantine.

The UK government says people “need to show an EU Digital COVID Certificate (EU DCC), showing you’ve had a full course of an EMA or Swissmedic-approved vaccine”.

And the British Embassy in Paris has confirmed news that is sure not to go down well – the vaccination status of people in that circumstance does not allow for quarantine-free travel to the UK.

READ ALSO Reader question: If I arrive in the UK from France before Sunday 4am, do I still have to quarantine?

In a Q&A on its  Facebook page, the Embassy was pretty clear in its instructions.

“Q: I have only received one dose of a vaccine and am considered fully vaccinated in France after having previously recovered from COVID-19. Am I exempt from quarantine?

“A: Unfortunately, your vaccination status is not currently recognised for quarantine-free entry into the UK and therefore you will need to self-isolate on arrival and take day 2 and day 8 tests. Our Travel Advice always has the most up to date information, so please register for updates to be kept informed of any changes to this policy.”

There’s a similar message on the Facebook page of the British embassy in Spain.

“Please be aware that the UK does not recognise natural immunity for international travel at this time, but this will be kept under review. We know that the EU DCC does enable people to prove natural immunity. This is not currently accepted in the UK and quarantine and day 8 testing requirements will only be eased, for those who have been fully vaccinated in a relevant European country, with an EMA-approved vaccine,” it says.

The Local has asked the UK government whether there is a chance this position will change.

READ ALSO: Everything you need to know about travel rules between France and the UK

Member comments

  1. Having read this I just booked a second shot last night (because I only had one originally on account of having had covid back in January). I can confirm that it is possible to get a second shot in these circumstances and they will reissue the EU health passport at the vaccination centre.

    1. That’s good to know. However, even if they update your health passport on the spot please be aware that according to the http://www.gov.uk ‘Fully vaccinated’ means you must have had your final dose of the approved vaccine at least 14 whole days before you arrive in England.

      The day you have your final dose does not count as one of the 14 days.

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PARIS 2024 OLYMPICS

How Paris’s Olympic carpool lanes will work 

Throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Games periods, some 185km of lanes on roads around Paris will be reserved for event-related traffic – here’s what you need to know.

How Paris’s Olympic carpool lanes will work 

Between July 15th and September 11th, ‘Olympic lanes’ will be in use along certain stretches of key roads in and around Paris.

These lanes will be reserved for use by accredited vehicles to transport athletes, accredited journalists and official delegations, as well as emergency and security vehicles, cabs, ambulances and public transport.

READ ALSO Apps, reservations and flying taxis: What to know before visiting Paris this summer

The lanes will be activated on July 15, on the following roads:

  • A1 between Roissy Charles de Gaulle and Porte de la Chapelle, until September 11th;
  • A4 between Collégien and Porte de Bercy until August 13th, then from August 30th to September 8th;
  • A12 between Rocquencourt and Montigny le Bretonneux until August 13th, and again from August 27th to September 8th;
  • A13 between Porte Maillot and Rocquencourt until August 13th, then from August 27th to September 8th;
  • Boulevard périphérique, from Porte de Vanves to Porte de Bercy, via the north until August 13th, then from August 22th to September 11th;
  • Boulevard Circulaire (La Défense) until August 13th, then from August 22nd to September 11th;
  • Lanes on certain routes in Paris.

None of these roads will be closed – lanes along these routes that are not reserved for Olympic or Paralympic Games traffic are open to road users as usual.

The lanes in question will be signposted – signs, clearly marked with the words “Paris 2024”, will be in place from July 1st, and will be removed by the end of the day on September 15h. 

READ ALSO How to use Paris public transport during the Olympics

Who can use dedicated Olympic lanes?

Only vehicles and road users that have been properly accredited by the Organising Committee of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games can travel along these lanes during the periods indicated above. 

They include:

  • vehicles of accredited persons;
  • cabs;
  • public transport vehicles;
  • vehicles designed to facilitate the transport of people with reduced mobility;
  • and emergency and security vehicles.

READ ALSO Who needs a QR code to get around Paris during the Olympics

All other vehicles are prohibited from using these lanes throughout the Olympic Games period. Any vehicle circulating on an Olympic lane without having received prior authorisation is liable to a fine of €135 and possible further prosecution.

Road users without Olympic accreditation are advised to be aware of possible travel issues, as more vehicles are filtered into the other lanes. Therefore it would be wise to allow a little extra time for your journey if you are using one of the listed roads during the Games period.

An interactive map, showing routes with Olympic lanes is available here

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