What are your options for travel if you're not eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine?

Over 21% of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and many of those vaccinated or about to be vaccinated are considering their travel plans for 2021 and beyond.

But what if you currently can't get the vaccine for any reason? You might still have the opportunity to travel, though it may come with additional challenges. The situation is complicated due to the ongoing pandemic. Here’s what you should be aware of.

Who qualifies as ineligible for the COVID-19 vaccine?

At present, the only groups advised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to delay vaccination are those currently ill or those who contract COVID-19 before their second vaccine dose. Additionally, individuals with severe allergies to any vaccine component should avoid it. Children under 16 are not yet eligible for vaccination—more details on that below.

Are unvaccinated children allowed to travel internationally?

Children represent a significant portion of individuals who are not yet eligible for vaccination.

Currently, there are age restrictions on all three vaccines authorized for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is approved for individuals aged 16 and older, while the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are intended for adults over 18.

Currently, children are not eligible for vaccination according to existing guidelines, and it may be some time before that changes. On March 31, Pfizer announced that its vaccine demonstrated 100% effectiveness in kids aged 12 to 15, and the company aims to begin vaccinations for this age group "before the next school year starts."

The CDC states that "children and adolescents outside these authorized age groups should not receive COVID-19 vaccinations at this time." They also mention that there is limited data regarding vaccine safety and efficacy for this demographic.

The cruise sector provides insight into how the travel industry may accommodate unvaccinated travelers. Both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity have announced that children under 18 can board with proof of a negative COVID-19 test instead of vaccination proof.

However, both cruise lines have made it clear that adult travelers must be fully vaccinated in order to sail when operations resume in June.

Numerous countries are now welcoming U.S. tourists. Some have already declared plans to either allow entry to fully vaccinated travelers or lift testing and quarantine requirements for them.

Will travelers need to be vaccinated to fly?

Numerous countries have suggested that vaccinated travelers may be exempt from mandatory quarantine measures. Additionally, some destinations and travel companies have hinted that vaccination could become a necessary condition for travel.

Being vaccinated against COVID-19 may soon be a prerequisite for entry into certain locations, much like how proof of yellow fever vaccination is currently required for travel to some countries.

What is the status of other travel vaccinations?

There are additional guidelines for individuals who should avoid the yellow fever vaccine. The way countries manage these vaccinations could offer insights for monitoring those who are not yet eligible for vaccination.

For instance, individuals may decline the yellow fever vaccine if they have experienced an allergic reaction to a previous dose, possess a compromised immune system, or have received any other vaccinations within the last month.

However, it's not as straightforward as simply stating that someone cannot receive it, particularly when it comes to international travel.

Travelers going to Ghana, which mandates the yellow fever vaccine, must present a vaccination exemption from a healthcare provider detailing why they cannot receive it. Nevertheless, the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers, a health organization focused on travel, warns that these waivers may not be recognized.

In summary

We can examine how different countries have approached entry regulations for travel vaccinations, such as yellow fever, to potentially forecast how COVID-19 vaccinations will be managed for those who cannot receive them.

Children may be given more flexibility since most are not yet eligible for vaccination. However, for adults, it might be challenging—if not impossible—to justify being ineligible for vaccination in certain countries.