can someone update me on what's required for DCL in terms of vaccination of 5-11 year olds?

[disneyholic family]

My 7 year old grandson had covid about 2 months ago.
Then 2 weeks ago, he had the first vaccine, which resulted in a very worrisome side effect (blood clot).
So naturally my son is concerned about him getting the second vaccine.
Are 7 year olds required to have both vaccines? Even if they've had covid?

We're booked on the Wish in July.

 

[lorimay]

My 7 year old grandson had covid about 2 months ago.
Then 2 weeks ago, he had the first vaccine, which resulted in a very worrisome side effect (blood clot).
So naturally my son is concerned about him getting the second vaccine.
Are 7 year olds required to have both vaccines? Even if they've had covid?

We're booked on the Wish in July.

Yes, as of January 13th everyone 5 and older must be fully vaccinated.

 

[disneyholic family]

Yes, as of January 13th everyone 5 and older must be fully vaccinated.

thanks!
we're overseas. The rules where we live are different (only one vaccine if you've had covid), but obviously we have to comply with what's required to get on the ship.
My son said he'll wait until really close to when we fly to the USA in hopes the risk of it happening again goes down.

 

[TreeFalls]

thanks!
we're overseas. The rules where we live are different (only one vaccine if you've had covid), but obviously we have to comply with what's required to get on the ship.
My son said he'll wait until really close to when we fly to the USA in hopes the risk of it happening again goes down.

Just remember you need the second dose at least 2 weeks before sailing to be considered fully vaccinated.

 

[disneyholic family]

Just remember you need the second dose at least 2 weeks before sailing to be considered fully vaccinated.

thanks. the cruise is at the end of a one month stay at WDW, and in any case, i'm sure they'll get the vaccination done a couple of weeks before we fly to the USA just in case he has a repeat.
He was with me when it happened and it was really scary. So it's not something you would want to happen while you're flying or away from home.

 

[cvjw]

Is going on the Wish worth your grandson getting another blood clot? My answer would be no. What if the side effects are worse the next time? No cruise would be worth risking a loved one‘s health.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

good point, but maybe they'll change the rules before then, since the vaccine doesn't provide immunity to omicron in any case.

I really don't see them changing the requirements anytime in 2022. I heard that Carnival recently announced that their vaccine requirement was going to continue indefinitely, and I just don't see other cruiselines backing off of their vaccination requirements. While vaccinated people can still get the Omicron variant, their chances of needing hospitalization are drastically less than someone who is unvaccinated, and that is an important distinction when it comes to having thousands of people on a ship for days with limited medical facilities.

 

[soniam]

Also, some of these vax requirements are dictated by the ports. It’s not always up to DCL.

 

[abnihon]

So do we have any clue how long the vaccine requirements will be in place? The rest of this year? A few years? Forever?
My son’s father is very against him getting vaccinated and I’m not sure if this is going to be worth going to court over or not.
It sort of depends on what happens with the virus and mandates for things like DCL, international travel and indoor activities in NYC (where my parents live and we go once or twice a year..)
All these unknowns are so stressful.
But we’re having a baby this spring (one reason we can’t deal with the stress of a court battle with my ex right now) so it’ll be at least a year before we’d even plan to go on another cruise . Hoping by then Covid policies have relaxed a little..

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I don't see the Caribbean islands or European nations saying "oh no vax no more."

 

[onesam319]

Is going on the Wish worth your grandson getting another blood clot? My answer would be no. What if the side effects are worse the next time? No cruise would be worth risking a loved one‘s health.

I am beginning to conclude that the risk of blood clots is more acceptable than the risk of dying from covid. A friend of mine, whose doctor advised him to not vaccinate because of his particular risk of blood clots, is at this moment on the ventilator with a blood oxygen percent of only 50%. We're praying for a miracle.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

So do we have any clue how long the vaccine requirements will be in place? The rest of this year? A few years? Forever?

Hard to say at this point, but my thoughts are if you aren't planning to get vaccinated then you should probably give up on planning any cruise vacations for at least the next 3-5 years. And there is a good chance these requirements will become permanent.

 

[randumb0]

I expect vaccine requirements to remain for the foreseeable future

 

[cvjw]

I am beginning to conclude that the risk of blood clots is more acceptable than the risk of dying from covid. A friend of mine, whose doctor advised him to not vaccinate because of his particular risk of blood clots, is at this moment on the ventilator with a blood oxygen percent of only 50%. We're praying for a miracle.

Not us. Know too many healthy people having strokes and unexpectedly dying right now. If you do have underlying conditions, the question is harder to answer. But a healthy child who has already had a blood clot from the vaccine, that is a no brainer.

 

[karen4546]

If The child got a blood clot from the vaccine, and the father is concerned for his safety-a cruise would be out of the question since you can’t sail without having proof of being fully vaccinate.

 

[CarolynU]

We are due on The Magic in August out of Copenhagen.
I’m expecting to have to cancel because we are from the UK and right now our government has no vaccine rollout for children under 12 I think, and right now has not announced one.
We have a five year old who will be six in April so if nothing changes she will not be allowed to sail.
I’m not going to fret. If we sail we sail. If we don’t we don't. Nothing I can do.

 

[mousefan73]

We are due on The Magic in August out of Copenhagen.
I’m expecting to have to cancel because we are from the UK and right now our government has no vaccine rollout for children under 12 I think, and right now has not announced one.
We have a five year old who will be six in April so if nothing changes she will not be allowed to sail.
I’m not going to fret. If we sail we sail. If we don’t we don't. Nothing I can do.

Is it a for sure thing that the vaccine mandate for under 12 is for all cruises or only those leaving the US?. Seeing how DCL has a high British crowd on their EU sailings, I can see them having to adjust for many reasons or simply not sail. ?? I mean you can't mandate in a market where it's not even possible??

 

[CarolynU]

Is it a for sure thing that the vaccine mandate for under 12 is for all cruises or only those leaving the US?. Seeing how DCL has a high British crowd on their EU sailings, I can see them having to adjust for many reasons or simply not sail. ?? I mean you can't mandate in a market where it's not even possible??

I think right now the vaccine mandate seems to be for departures from anywhere not just the US and DCL has emailed me to this effect, but maybe as it gets closer perhaps that could change which is why I’m not giving up just yet.
Last year we had the staycation cruises out of UK ports and the requirement was just a PCR plus LFT at the port, so that sufficed, but I’m not sure if this might return for European cruises or if the fully vaccinated mandate will hold firm. I’m not even 100% certain that The Magic will even come to Europe at all to be honest. We can but wait.

 

[Cheburashka]

I am beginning to conclude that the risk of blood clots is more acceptable than the risk of dying from covid. A friend of mine, whose doctor advised him to not vaccinate because of his particular risk of blood clots, is at this moment on the ventilator with a blood oxygen percent of only 50%. We're praying for a miracle.

The risk to a child is completely different from the risk to a middle aged or older adult. Kids rarely get very sick from Covid. I'm an elementary school teacher and have had four students get diagnosed with Covid in the past month (and EVERY DAY at least one child in the school is going into quarantine due to a diagnosed case). In every case, they have no or mild symptoms, then return after the quarantine period like nothing ever happened. Less than half of these kids are vaccinated, so that isn't what's protecting them, it's their youth.

The OP's grandchild has already had a dangerous reaction to the first shot, which makes the second shot very risky. That kind of health gamble would be insane to make for a cruise.

 

[Cheburashka]

I don't see the Caribbean islands or European nations saying "oh no vax no more."

It's perfectly possible the islands might decide that, now that it's clear that the vaccine doesn't stop people from spreading Covid.

The vaccine protects people from getting severe reactions to Covid, but that is not something that would have much of an effect on an island accepting day guests, since those guests are very unlikely to become suddenly seriously ill during the day visit & need to use the island's medical facilities.