Any official notice of vaccine grace period for 5yr olds?

[lostprincess_danie]

Our daughter will turn 5 two weeks before our cruise, not enough time to be fully vaccinated against covid. I have read on the boards there was a vaccine "grace period" instituted for those children with birthdays close to their sail date when the covid vaccine was approved for 12+. Was there an official announcement to that effect or is it purely rumor? If so, what paperwork, forms, or tests were required to take advantage of the grace period for an unvaccinated newly 12 yr old?
Is there any grace period in effect for the current 5+ group requirement? Looking for a link to the official policy or another way to obtain that info.

 

[Snowwhyt]

Our daughter will turn 5 two weeks before our cruise, not enough time to be fully vaccinated against covid. I have read on the boards there was a vaccine "grace period" instituted for those children with birthdays close to their sail date when the covid vaccine was approved for 12+. Was there an official announcement to that effect or is it purely rumor? If so, what paperwork, forms, or tests were required to take advantage of the grace period for an unvaccinated newly 12 yr old?
Is there any grace period in effect for the current 5+ group requirement? Looking for a link to the official policy or another way to obtain that info.

I would set up the first shot on her b-day. (Yeah, I know that stinks) and keep calling Disney right upto and on her b-day to see what the rules are that day. Better to be prepared for the worst or then be shocked when your turned away because of a new policy. I got a flood of 11 and under on our sailing because of the switch in guidelines. People had to make changes fast.

 

[BruinEd03]

Our daughter will turn 5 two weeks before our cruise, not enough time to be fully vaccinated against covid. I have read on the boards there was a vaccine "grace period" instituted for those children with birthdays close to their sail date when the covid vaccine was approved for 12+. Was there an official announcement to that effect or is it purely rumor? If so, what paperwork, forms, or tests were required to take advantage of the grace period for an unvaccinated newly 12 yr old?
Is there any grace period in effect for the current 5+ group requirement? Looking for a link to the official policy or another way to obtain that info.

I would take official policy to be what is on their website. The policy was announced in December and took effect in mid-January, so if there was an exception, they may not be granting it anymore. You can try to call DCL or Inspire Diagnostics (which handles the online verification), but any exceptions or grace periods may not be part of the official policy. You may also want to call a couple of times to confirm if you do get an exception to ensure that you’re not getting incorrect information and get a surprise denial at the port. Of course depending on when your cruise is, things can change.

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/why-cruise-disney/experience-updates/us/
COVID-19 Vaccination
Learn about the requirements for COVID-19 vaccination at the time of sailing.
Currently, Disney Cruise Line continues to require all vaccine-eligible Guests (based on US eligibility requirements) to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, as defined by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at the time of sailing. This is a requirement for all Guests (US and international) ages 5 and older.
In consideration of guidance from the CDC and the World Health Organization, Disney Cruise Line accepts the following vaccine types: Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, Covishield, Novavax, Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV (VeroCell), Sinovac-CoronaVac and Covavaxin (Bharat Biotech).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines fully vaccinated as 14 days after receiving:

• A single dose of an accepted 1-dose vaccine
• The second dose of an accepted 2-dose vaccine
• The full series of an active (not placebo) COVID-19 vaccine in the US-based AstraZeneca or Novavax COVID-19 vaccine trials
• The second dose of any “mix and match” combination of accepted COVID-19 vaccines (administered at least 17 days apart)

 

[Disneyland_emily]

Contact safe Passage and they’ll give you the confirmation you need for the window. While we ended up moving our cruise to the weekend before her 5th birthday for work reasons we felt confident on sailing the weekend after she turned 5.

 

[lostprincess_danie]

I would set up the first shot on her b-day. (Yeah, I know that stinks) and keep calling Disney right upto and on her b-day to see what the rules are that day. Better to be prepared for the worst or then be shocked when your turned away because of a new policy.

We are traveling with another family and would not want to cut things that close in having to cancel or reschedule out of consideration for them (they would not be able to switch to a later sail date due to their children's school schedules).

You may also want to call a couple of times to confirm if you do get an exception to ensure that you’re not getting incorrect information and get a surprise denial at the port. Of course depending on when your cruise is, things can change.

Cruise is in September, so we have time to monitor things. I understand it may be too early right now to know what policy may change in regards to recently turned 5 year olds. We are trying to be considerate of our traveling group and let then know soon as we can if our family will be able to make the trip or not.

 

[KT2038]

Hi, I am a Youth Activities CM, and as far as I am aware, there is no “grace period” for being unvaccinated if you are eligible. There may have been exceptions made if the announcements of these requirements as well as the child’s birthday were within weeks of your cruise, but as your cruise is still 9 months away, and these requirements were announced many months before your cruise, it is likely that your child will need to comply with the guidelines and be fully vaccinated at the time of sailing. If you have further questions, please let me know.

 

[lanejudy]

as far as I am aware, there is no “grace period” for being unvaccinated if you are eligible.

There has been a grace period for children who’s 12th birthday was less than 5 weeks before the cruise. I expect that will be true for children turning 5 now. It’s physically impossible for those children to meet the vaccination requirement.

OP - I would contact SafePassage since they are handling the “clear to sail” approvals. Expect your child to need to follow the rules for unvaxxed with pre-embarkation testing. Though it’s possible vaccinations may get approved for the little ones before your cruise in which case she could get vaxxed in time anyway.

 

[MomOTwins]

We are traveling with another family and would not want to cut things that close in having to cancel or reschedule out of consideration for them (they would not be able to switch to a later sail date due to their children's school schedules).


Cruise is in September, so we have time to monitor things. I understand it may be too early right now to know what policy may change in regards to recently turned 5 year olds. We are trying to be considerate of our traveling group and let then know soon as we can if our family will be able to make the trip or not.

So your friends can’t move the cruise later but could they move it a couple weeks earlier just before your child turns 5?

 

[Snowwhyt]

We are traveling with another family and would not want to cut things that close in having to cancel or reschedule out of consideration for them (they would not be able to switch to a later sail date due to their children's school schedules).

Absolutely understand. And I kinda meant all you can do is check DCL for today’s policy (by email) and prep like it’s going to change. Cover you self like she’s age 4 and follow through on 5 year old requirements.

Prep: Set up a shot on her B-day, set up a PCR test just like if she were 4 years old going on a cruise. If you do both your covered both ways. Regardless of what the DCL email states. Do both, can’t see them deny you with that scenario.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

There has been a grace period for children who’s 12th birthday was less than 5 weeks before the cruise.

The difference being, when the 12+ eligibility happened there was less time before the implementation of the requirement to board the ship.

As KT2038 says, the time lag in this case (5+) is much longer, people knew when they booked that the requirement for it was in place (for the most part).

 

[TinkLoverSam]

The difference being, when the 12+ eligibility happened there was less time before the implementation of the requirement to board the ship.

As KT2038 says, the time lag in this case (5+) is much longer, people knew when they booked that the requirement for it was in place (for the most part).

The thing is lead time to policy change doesn’t change a birthday. Here in Canada vaccination is based on birth year so her soon to be 5 year old could be fully vaccinated here but if it’s absolutely birthday where you are then they could have a grace period.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

The thing is lead time to policy change doesn’t change a birthday. Here in Canada vaccination is based on birth year so her soon to be 5 year old could be fully vaccinated here but if it’s absolutely birthday where you are then they could have a grace period.

The difference being the longer gap time from eligibility to boarding requirement means that people are booking AFTER the requirement is in place, knowing they have a child that won't be able to meet the requirement.

 

[MomOTwins]

The difference being the longer gap time from eligibility to boarding requirement means that people are booking AFTER the requirement is in place, knowing they have a child that won't be able to meet the requirement.

And people have more lead time to change their cruise because they are not yet PIF so no penalty to switch to another sailing either before the 5th bday or after fully vaccinated. Or cancel and get a full refund. Disney doesn’t feel the need to give a grace period now because everyone has had more than adequate notice of the policy and the need to cancel or change the cruise if they can’t meet the requirements as of a particular sail date.

 

[Lillebelle]

We had to push back our original cruise due to a positive covid result, and are now scheduled to sail during my son's 5th birthday. Before we moved to that date, both I and my Dreams agent called Disney separately and got the same information. Here is what my Dreams agent sent me:

"Guests who turn 5 within 5 weeks of embarkation are permitted to sail but will be required to follow testing protocols, which include providing proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result taken between 3 days and 24 hours before their sail date. This test should be a rapid PCR test or lab-based PCR test. Rapid antigen tests will not be accepted. Additionally, they will also be required to take a COVID-19 test administered by Inspire Diagnostics at the terminal before boarding "

Note that neither of us were able to get them to point us to anywhere this is written, but at least the woman I spoke to was clearly reading from a knowledge base (she specifically said she wanted to look it up since things were always changing). So, we are taking our chances and going for it. If they don't let us on the boat I'll be sure to report back.

One other consideration for you specifically -- you said your cruise is in September. My pediatrician this week told me he expects vaccines for under 5 to be available around April (unclear if that will be inclusive of 6mos - 2 years but at least the 2-4 set). So, I think it's extremely likely you'll be able to get your 4yo vaccinated with plenty of buffer before September, assuming you're in the US. Just what I've heard, you choose your own risk tolerance since obviously anything can change in this pandemic at any moment.

 

[Frozencleo]

We were going to be sailing the week after my daughter turned 5. We ultimately canceled that cruise for other reasons, but I also checked on whether or not she would even be allowed to sail, and was also told that since she would be within five weeks of her birthday, she could, but would be treated as an unvaccinated four year old. So, she would need a test before arriving at the port, in addition to the one at the port.

 

[lostprincess_danie]

One other consideration for you specifically -- you said your cruise is in September. My pediatrician this week told me he expects vaccines for under 5 to be available around April (unclear if that will be inclusive of 6mos - 2 years but at least the 2-4 set). So, I think it's extremely likely you'll be able to get your 4yo vaccinated with plenty of buffer before September, assuming you're in the US. Just what I've heard, you choose your own risk tolerance since obviously anything can change in this pandemic at any moment.

I think THIS is exactly what is likely to happen. But I'm a worrier by nature and I was jumping to get ahead of a potential problem.

Thank you everyone for your input!

 

[Freeman867]

I think THIS is exactly what is likely to happen. But I'm a worrier by nature and I was jumping to get ahead of a potential problem.

Thank you everyone for your input!

Right. Reports today are Pfizer is submitting their application for EUA for 4 and younger today or tomorrow and is likely to have final approval end of February/beginning of March. Any cruisers with kids under 5 should be aware of this and plan accordingly, DCL will almost definitely change their rules to require all guests be vaccinated 6-8 weeks after the vaccine becomes available.