For most international travel, a medical exemption from the vaccination requirement is not valid. This type of exemption will not appear on your NHS COVID Pass and is not accepted by the country of destination.
The list of accepted vaccines is not exhaustive and may expand in the future. However, if you are in a health sciences program at UW, you should follow the HSIP. Visit the HSIP website to see if your program participates. If you are a student, you must complete a student COVID-19 Vaccine Verification form. Once the form has been processed, you must wait until you have completed your last vaccination before submitting the application.
Students with religious beliefs or medical conditions must complete a medical exemption form. This form must be signed by a licensed healthcare provider (medical doctor, naturopathic doctor, or osteopath).
As such, you must seek a doctor's written certification. A doctor can grant you an exemption if you are pregnant or have a genuine religious belief. The form should be in a PDF format of no more than 25 MB. Once the form is approved, the student may begin taking classes.
Exemptions from the vaccination requirement can be issued for students who are in college or university.
In addition, parents of preschool students must provide an exemption for their child to attend preschool.
These certificates expire at the end of June each year and the student must obtain a new certificate to attend school the following year.
Travelling unvaccinated has its drawbacks, including the risk of contracting disease and additional testing and quarantine.
However, the trend towards lowering vaccination requirements in Europe and other parts of the world is positive. Despite the growing risk of infectious diseases, travellers are booking holiday packages in previously heavily restricted countries.
There are some exceptions to this policy. For instance, non-immigrants who plan to visit the U.S. for more than 60 days are required to be fully vaccinated. Non-immigrant travelers, however, can qualify for waivers for humanitarian reasons.
In addition to exemptions for COVID-19, some countries have reduced or eliminated requirements to enter. In Slovenia, no proof of vaccination or proof of recovery from the disease is needed to enter the country. In Slovakia, COVID-19-related entry requirements have been removed. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, a negative COVID-19 test must be provided before entering the country. In Bulgaria, COVID-19-related entry requirements have been lifted as of 1 May 2022.
If you are traveling unvaccinated, you must have a negative COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours before embarkation. Alternatively, if you are fully vaccinated, you can present an OCVID-19 vaccine certificate to enter the country.
