St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), is now among a list of countries for which fully vaccinated travellers are exempt from having to quarantine on arrival in the UK. 

This is according to a diplomatic note from the British High Commission to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade in SVG  on October 7, which said a fully vaccinated traveller is a person who has received two doses of the AstraZeneca (including Covishield), Pfizer, Moderna or Janssen vaccine, with the second dose being at least two weeks prior.

“It is feasible that the list of vaccines may be expanded in the future. For now, the list is restricted to the above-named four,” it also said.

The  diplomatic note said that the Government of the United Kingdom has now assessed the documentation and information provided and that this country has now been added to the list of countries that are exempt. 

The United Kingdom, on Monday October 4, eliminated its previous traffic light system of green, amber and red list in classifying countries, and implemented a new system, which only utilises a single red list.

Testing rules have also been eased for people travelling from non-red listed destinations, who have been vaccinated in the UK, the EU, the USA or any of the other recognised countries with an approved vaccination programme.

And when the rules changed on Monday, the only CARICOM countries listed were Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados and Dominica.

This meant that fully vaccinated travellers from SVG who wished to travel to the UK would have been treated as being unvaccinated and not eligible for any exemption. 

Steve Moore, resident British Commissioner, told SEARCHLIGHT that it was likely that other countries will be added to the list of exempt countries over time, once the relevant assessments take place. 

He also noted that he was working closely with local authorities and was in communication with colleagues in London, as it relates to SVG’s inclusion.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Simone Keizer-Beache told SEARCHLIGHT recently that persons travelling to the UK or any other country, can make a request to be issued a vaccine certificate with a QR Code.

Yesterday’s diplomatic note said SVG’s exemption goes into effect from 4 a.m Monday, October 11. 

The entry rules in the UK are subject to change on a regular basis, so it is important for travellers to check www.gov.uk before travel.

Having now been included on the list of countries to benefit from exemptions, travellers from SVG must now book and pay for a Day 2 COVID-19 test and complete a passenger locator form prior to travel. 

The traveller is also required to enter their COVID-19 test booking reference number on the passenger locator form.