The Covid vaccine for Erasmus students: Do you need it in order to travel?

A new normality has dawned and with it comes important changes like the new covid vaccine. The start of a new Erasmus year is approaching and with it many concerns: is it compulsory to have received the vaccine before travelling? Is there time to get the vaccine before leaving? Does it matter which vaccine?

No need to agonise any more over these questions, here at Erasmusu, before you start your Erasmus adventure, we'll tell you everything you need to know regarding the covid vaccine.

It is encouraged that you get a vaccine protecting yourself against COVID-19, but it is not mandatory when travelling abroad

There it is, there is no compulsory Covid vaccine. You are not obligated to get the COVID-19 vaccine due to ethical reasons, as it would pressurise those who prefer not to get vaccinated. Mind you, whether you are travelling out of pleasure or because you are going to study abroad, you will be required to complete a number of requisites in order to be able to travel. For those of you who have spent a while planning your 2021 Erasmus, you will know what I am talking about but in case you are not aware, I'll fill you in.

As you will know, the requirements for entering a country very much depends on your destination and are subject to change depending on the country's situation. Generally, you will be able to complete one of the three options below:

• Certificate of recovery: this is the certificate which you will be issued with if you have had a positive PCR test in the last 6 months and then a subsequent negative one, showing you no longer have the virus.
• Negative test certificate: this confirms that you have carried out a PCR test within 48 hours of you travelling and that it was negative.
• Covid vaccination certificate: in-order to have this certificate, you will have needed to be fully vaccinated against Covid. Also, you should have got your last dose at least 14 days before travelling.

I would advise you to get your Covid certificate of mobility, known officially as your Covid passport. With this at your disposal, all you will have to do is get out your mobile and show your digital certificate in order to be able to travel with complete freedom.

By registering on the app any of the completed requirements I have previously mentioned, you will be able to make the most of the advantages of this certificate and take one step closer to the new normality.

What is the plan in Spain for vaccinating Erasmus students?

Up until now, most of us have been keeping ourselves constantly up to date with the latest updates regarding the Covid-19 vaccine, and as the months pass the wait to book an appointment becomes shorter.

Logically, in Spain, the distribution of the vaccine has been prioritised for old people or people with existing health problems, leaving Erasmus students at the back of the queue. The worry is no longer whether the covid vaccine is effective or not, more whether it will arrive on time to be given before travelling.

Over the last few months, the possibility of making the vaccine available for Erasmus students has been considered. This makes sense as immunising this group would prevent a significant amount of cases.

And now here comes the best update regarding the Covid vaccine! Finally, the vaccine is available for some young people in certain cities in Spain and more and more regions are joining this initiative.

One of them is Madrid. From July 2021, Erasmus students will be eligible to receive the vaccine

After months of waiting and uncertainty, the local government has decided to offer all students aged 16 or above and who are participating in the Erasmus programme or any other foreign exchange programme like the MAEC-AECI or Fulbright (among others), the possibility to vaccinate themselves so that they can travel with total security.

All you need to do is book an appointment for your first dose over the website and present a document which demonstrates that you have been accepted onto a foreign learning exchange programme.

Therefore, if you're from Madrid and next term are planning to move abroad, what are you waiting for, go get the vaccine!

Erasmus students from Valencia can now also get the coronavirus vaccine

Valencia has followed Madrid's example. Around 2000 students from the community of Valencia will also have the fortune to be able to obtain the Spanish Covid vaccine over the next few days. Each day there are more and more students who will be able to pack their suitcases and start the 2021/2022 course without worries.

Latest Covid vaccine updates: A lot more cities join up to this initiative

More and more cities are joining up to offer this alternative for those young people who for obvious reasons, cannot wait their turn to receive the vaccine.

The latest places which have opted to call up those who have been accepted onto a foreign language exchange programme for the vaccine, are the regions of Aragón and Murcia.

With luck, you will have received your second dose before even starting to look for accommodation in your host city!

Which vaccine will I get and when: will you have time to vaccinate yourself before leaving on Erasmus?

There are different types of vaccines and all of them are equally valid in order to get a Covid-19 certificate.

You may have already heard about the Pfizer, Moderna or AstraZeneca vaccines or even the newest Janssen one created by Johnson & Johnson. All of the above are currently being dished out to people but not all are accepted by every country.

In the case of Spain, they will administer, according to availability, the vaccines which are suitable for students 16 years old and above who are studying abroad. That is to say, you may receive the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine for example. It's the same either way!

If what you are worried about is knowing when you will be able to receive the Covid vaccine, don't worry it will be soon. Notify your local health centre when you are leaving to go abroad and depending upon how much in advance you do this, they will give you either one dose of the Janssen vaccine or two doses of the Moderna vaccine, for example.

Once you have received your vaccine protecting you against coronavirus, then you can start looking for accommodation!

Enjoy the advantages we can offer you at Erasmusu and rent your accommodation through us wherever you go. Thanks to our accommodations with flexible booking and our verified housing, you will be able to start to enjoy your experience even before arriving, from the comfort of your own home.

Get in contact with us and tell us what you need, we would love to help you out.

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