Families may face difficulty getting into Spain for holidays after an idea to make vaccine travel rules more simple for teenagers was rejected.
The EU hopes to bring in new regulations that allow children from non-EU countries like the UK who have only had one coronavirus jab to be classed as fully vaccinated if they have recently recovered from Covid-19.
But Spain is set to block the EU plan and insist on full vaccination only for all tourists from the UK, Wales Online reports, which could scupper some half-term holiday plans
Most children aged 12 to 15 who test positive for coronavirus must wait 12 weeks for the next vaccination jab after the date of the test.
It means teens will struggle to get their second coronavirus jabs, or booster jabs, before half-term if they caught Covid-19 in recent months as coronavirus jabs were rolled out to their age group later.
Read more: What does 'fully vaccinated mean' and does it include boosters?
Spain's entry requirements mean tourists from the UK aged over 12 must be fully vaccinated to visit as a tourist. Spain defines fully vaccinated as someone who has had "both doses of a 2-dose vaccine or one dose of a single-dose vaccine" as long as their day of travel is at least 14 days after their last jab. Those whose final jab of a 2-dose or single-dose course was more than 270 days before arrival will require boosters.
While in the UK the NHS app will be updated to allow 12 to 15 year olds to confirm they have recovered from Covid-19, Spain does not accept proof of Covid-19 recovery as a vaccination status.
The Spanish Tourist Office in the UK said: "Spain is in discussions with the EU and its partners about a possible review of the entry requirements for tourists from third countries with a view to making the current measures more flexible.
"The situation could change in the near future."
The Foreign and Commonwealth office says: "If you’re travelling to Spain for tourism purposes, you cannot use the UK proof of Covid 19 recovery record certifying that you have recovered from Covid 19 in the last 6 months."
Fully vaccinated travellers aged over 12 do not need to take Covid tests to enter Spain.
Children aged under 12 do not have to prove their vaccination status. All passengers must fill a health control form before travelling to Spain.
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