The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Vaccinated couple denied dream trip
FREUCHIE: Pair did not receive Covid certificate in time
A Fife couple’s holiday plans are in tatters after their Covid-19 vaccine certificate did not arrive in time.
Carol and Michael Adams, from Freuchie, were ready to head off on a dream cruise around the British Isles from Newcastle at the weekend.
But proof that Mr Adams had received both his coronavirus vaccines, despite being applied for six weeks ago, did not arrive, forcing the retirees to abandon their getaway.
Passengers on the trip, which included a stop-off at the French coast, are prevented from boarding if they do not have evidence of their vaccination status.
Carol said: “My husband received his second dose in April and we applied for our vaccine status five weeks ago, but Michael’s application was rejected because they claim they don’t have a record of his second jab.
“We have the exact date of my husband’s vaccination, where it was, even who the nurse was that gave him it and what batch of vaccine it was.
“We had to accept the holiday wouldn’t happen.”
The couple will, however, enjoy their holiday in a year’s time with tour operator Tui having agreed to honour the break.
AFife couple have been forced to put their holiday plans on hold for a year after a Covid-19 vaccine certificate failed to arrive in time.
Carol and Michael Adams were due to set sail from Newcastle at the weekend on a cruise around the British Isles, with a stop off the French coast.
But proof of Mr Adams’ vaccination status – which was applied for six weeks ago – did not arrive, scuppering the retirees’ plans.
Passengers are not allowed to board without evidence they have received both doses of a coronavirus vaccine.
Luckily for the couple, tour operator Tui has agreed to honour their holiday and the Freuchie residents will go on their 11-day cruise this time next year instead.
Carol said: “My husband received his second dose of the vaccine in April and we applied for our vaccine status five weeks ago, but Michael’s application was rejected because they claim they don’t have a record of his second jab.
“We have been passed from pillar to post by operators and in some cases supervisors, but they still insist it is not on their system – ‘end of story’.
“We have the exact date of my husband’s vaccination, where it was, even who the nurse was that gave him it and what batch of vaccine it was.
“We have all this printed out from our clinic but it’s no good for travelling, unfortunately.
“Thankfully, we have stayed in contact with the cruise operator constantly, and up until two days ago we were still possibly going to make it.
“But eventually we just had to accept that it just wouldn’t happen.
“I wouldn’t like to get other people’s hopes up in our situation, though. I think we have been very lucky that Tui has agreed to let us travel next year instead.
“A lot of companies I think may just say that you have lost your place and can’t be refunded.”
The NHS Inform website states that the application process for proof of vaccination should take 14 days.
However, in many cases, investigations into delayed certificates can take more than a week to start and then at least a further 14 days to be completed.
The couple say they do not use the internet or smartphones, so all their applications have been done over the phone or by post.
North East Fife MP Wendy Chamberlain has been looking into issues with vaccine status applications and has also taken on the couple’s case.
She said: “The mismanagement of the vaccine reporting system in Scotland is ongoing with no sign of improvements.
“It has created needless confusion for thousands of people and on top of that, our care systems across the four nations of the UK appear to be working completely separately without any co-ordination or clear guidance.”
A spokesman for NHS National Services Scotland said: “There are multiple ways for a patient to get a vaccination status record, including patients who did not receive an appointment letter or whether they had a letter and did not retain it.
“The process is covered on the NHS Inform page, as part of the recover your username process.
“If you never received a username, you should use the recover username option.
“If a patient experiences any difficulties, assistance is available through the Covid Vaccination Status Helpline which is available, seven days a week, from 10am to 6pm, on 0808 196 8565.”