New York’s new Covid vaccine rules for kids affect Brits who’ve booked holidays

New York is introducing new Covid vaccine rules for children 5-11 which will require proof of one vaccine dose to enter venues such as restaurants and theatres

New York City is set to introduce new Covid vaccine rules for children later this month, and it could cause an issue for UK families who have booked trips to the Big Apple.

The city’s Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced that from December 14, children aged 5-11 will be required to have at least one dose of a Covid vaccine in order to be able to enter the likes of indoor restaurants and ‘entertainment and performance venues’ such as theatres.

Then from December 27, anyone aged 12 or over will need to be fully vaccinated to access those venues.

The new Covid passport rules will likely pose a problem for UK families with trips booked to NYC in the coming months.

Currently in the UK, vaccines aren’t being rolled out for children under the age of 12 yet, which means that if a UK family is heading to New York with children aged 5-11, they won’t be able to show proof of vaccination – and the kids will effectively be banned from entering venues like restaurants and theatres from December 14.

New York has long been a hit with Brits looking for winter getaways as it boasts some incredible Christmas experiences, and holidays only recently became possible again when the US recently lifted an 18-month-long travel ban for Brits back in November.

In fact, New York was one of the key destinations where brands saw bookings soaring, within days of the announcement.

Under the current US rules, fully vaccinated UK travellers can visit for non-essential reasons such as a holiday, while children under 18 are exempt from the vaccination requirement.

What to do if you have a holiday booked

If you have a holiday booked with children aged 5-11 after December 14, you can still visit New York City, but they won’t be able to enter venues like restaurants and theatres.

Unfortunately because there isn’t a travel ban in place, your holiday firm/tour operator is unlikely to cancel your package holiday.

However, a lot of travel firms are offering free amends when new rules affect your holiday and mean that you won’t be able to enjoy your trip.

You’re only entitled to a full refund if a travel firm cancels your trip.

If you booked your flights and hotel separately, it can be a little more complicated.

It’s unlikely your flight will be cancelled, therefore the airline won’t be required to issue you with a refund. However, like package holiday firms, most airlines are offering free rebooking and amends during the pandemic – check the terms of your booking and speak to the airline directly.

As for your hotel, whether you can get a refund will depend on your booking policy. It may be that you need to compromise by rebooking or asking for credit vouchers.

It’s also worth checking your travel insurance policy details in case you’re able to get some money back if you can’t go on your trip.

If you’ve booked tickets to specific shows or attractions, again your booking policy will determine if you can get a refund – again, check the terms and get in touch with the provider direct in case you’re able to move the booking.

• Travel restrictions and rules can change quickly during the pandemic. You can get more information and updates in the Foreign Office’s USA travel advice.

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