Worthing grandmother ‘devastated’ after Covid guidelines change cancels family reunion

Jenifer Chivers, from Worthing, says she and her family are “devastated” after her son had to cancel his trip to England from Germany amid a change in vaccination guidelines.

The 74-year-old grandmother was due to host Tim and her two grandchildren, who live in Germany, for two weeks.

• READ MORE: How to get a Covid-19 vaccine in Brighton without an appointment this week

But the UK government changed its travel rules last week to say that people have to quarantine if they have had two different vaccine doses.

This is common across Europe with thousands, including German chancellor Angela Merkel, receiving different jabs.

Jenifer Chivers disappointed after family reunion cancelled

Jenifer says despite Tim being fully vaccinated and having all the correct forms and tests, the last-minute rule change has ruined their reunion.

She said a large proportion of Europe are in the same situation as Tim, whose first vaccine dose was Pfizer and second was AstraZeneca.

“I was lucky enough to go over to visit them a year ago, but he has not seen the rest of the family for two years,” she said.

“This rule is crazy. A large part of the population of Europe have had different vaccines – even Angela Merkel.

“It goes without saying that we are all completely devastated.

"I am 74 years of age, I live on my own and am finding it impossible to come to terms with this.”

The new rules meant Tim and his two children would need to quarantine for ten days, as well as having a test on day two and eight of their stay.

“They had already bought the day two tests, which were expensive enough,” Jenifer said.

“But they are only staying for two weeks, so it is not viable for them to quarantine.”

Jenifer Chivers disappointed after family reunion cancelled

Jenifer has also written to the Prime Minister Boris Johnson in an attempt to highlight her disappointment and campaign for a change of rules.

“This situation is beyond belief, and it goes without saying that his whole family, sister, parents, cousins, friends are devastated,” she said.

“We had so many get togethers planned, and this is all taken away with one crazy, unnecessary rule.”

Jenifer said she looks forward to hearing from Mr Johnson with “an explanation for depriving us of our family visit at the very last minute”.

People who have received two different doses of a vaccine can still be certified as fully vaccinated through the NHS Covid pass.

However, the pass is only available to those who got their vaccines in the UK.