How To Get A COVID Vaccine If You’re An Expat

If you’re an expat living and working in a foreign country, are you eligible for a coronavirus vaccine? And if not, can you return to your home country for a jab? Can you get a second or booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in another country? To answer these questions, we take a look at some of the more successful COVID-19 vaccination programmes around the world, including Spain and other UK vaccine programme overseas.

How can I get a COVID vaccine as an expat overseas in another country?

COVID-19 vaccination programmes tend to be run by national governments or local health authorities. Most countries run their own vaccination programme, with a clear order of priority for different age groups, health conditions, and occupations, such as health workers. It’s a little different in Europe, where the EU runs the COVID vaccination programme for its member states. But wherever they’re available, the authorities are providing vaccines for free, with the most vulnerable vaccinated first.

As an expat, you should be able to get a coronavirus vaccine in the country where you live. When you will receive your invitation depends on your position in the order of priority. You need to check if you can get a second dose or booster jab in a country different from your country of residence. Some locations, such as Dubai, are offering free coronavirus vaccinations to expats who have a residency visa and have come to work remotely in the country.

Can foreigners and overseas visitors get a vaccine in the UK?

Overseas visitors to England, including anyone living in the UK without permission, will not be charged for coronavirus (COVID-19) testing, treatment and vaccination.

Do I have to be a resident to be eligible for a COVID vaccine?

Whether you’re an official resident may also have an impact, particularly for Britons living in the EU post-Brexit. If in doubt, a relocation expert can advise on whether you need to be a resident to have access to healthcare, including the COVID vaccination.

UK vaccination programme overseas

According to the UK government, wherever possible British citizens should aim to be vaccinated in their country of residence. If you live overseas you should find out about COVID-19 vaccines available locally, and contact your healthcare provider for further advice. Local authorities where you live should provide information about COVID-19 vaccines used in the national vaccination programme, including their regulatory status.

How do expats get a COVID vaccine in Spain?

The Spanish national vaccination programme started in December 2020 and is using the AstraZeneca, Janssen (Johnson and Johnson), Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines. British nationals resident in Spain are eligible for vaccination. Spain operates its health system regionally, therefore the way people access the vaccine will differ depending on where you live. You should refer to your regional health authority for information regarding the vaccination plan in your area. If you are already registered for public healthcare you should be contacted by your regional health service to make an appointment when it is your turn to be vaccinated. Vaccination in Spain for foreigners is also allowed, however, you cannot have a private COVID vaccine in Europe.

All residents in Spain need to register to access healthcare. In Spain, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advises British residents to obtain their vaccines in the country where they live. Those who are registered for healthcare in Spain should be contacted directly by their regional health service. They will then be able to book an appointment. However, Britons living in Spain who are not registered for healthcare are still eligible for their jab.

Each regional health authority has issued its own instructions as to how unregistered locals can book their appointment. Check FDCO advice here.

What about the COVID vaccine for US citizens living abroad?

The US government isn’t providing COVID-19 vaccinations to US citizens living overseas, so access to the vaccine will depend on the rules of the country you’re in.

If you’re a US citizen living in the UK, the vaccine is free on the NHS. You do not require an NHS number or GP registration to receive the COVID-19 vaccination and should not be denied vaccination on this basis. Individuals who do not have an NHS number or are not registered with a GP are still entitled to free COVID-19 vaccinations. Read our guide on UK healthcare for expats.

COVID-19 vaccines for expats in different countries

If you are an expat in Indonesia, you can get vaccinated based on the official vaccination programme. There are four stages in the programme, so you need to check with your local medical practice when it is your turn as it will depend on the region you are.

COVID-19 vaccines if you live abroad: travelling back to or through the UK

From March 2022, people arriving in the UK from abroad do not need to:

• complete a UK passenger locator form before you travel
• take any COVID-19 tests before you travel or after you arrive
• quarantine when you arrive

This applies whether you are vaccinated or not.

Which country has the best COVID-19 vaccination programme?

64.5% of the world population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Countries with the highest COVID-19 vaccine dose rate worldwide include:

1. Gibraltar
2. Cuba
3. Chile
4. Malta
5. South Korea

Within Europe, the countries that had vaccinated the most people (per capita) against COVID-19 were:

1. Malta
2. Denmark
3. Portugal
4. Italy
5. Iceland
6. Belgium

So far, the EU has secured access to 4.2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

The EU is committed to ensuring that safe vaccines reach all corners of the world. The Commission and EU countries have pledged over €3 billion to COVAX, the global initiative aimed at ensuring equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, and are supporting vaccination campaigns in partner countries.

Which is the best COVID-19 vaccine?

The vaccines approved for use have met strict standards of safety, quality and effectiveness set out by the independent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Medical experts do not recommend one vaccine over another.

COVID vaccine mixing: studies have shown that people who receive two different COVID-19 vaccines generate potent immune responses, with side effects no worse than those caused by standard regimens.

How safe is the COVID-19 vaccine?

Despite the fact that all the approved vaccines have met rigorous safety standards, as of 7 April, under-30s in the UK are to be offered an alternative COVID vaccine to the AstraZeneca jab due to evidence linking it to rare blood clots.

Meanwhile, the EU’s medicines regulator says unusual blood clots should be listed as a possible very rare side effect of the AstraZeneca jab, but that the benefits outweighed the risks. Some European countries have restricted the vaccine’s use altogether.

The World Health Organization said the link between the vaccine and blood clots was “plausible” but not confirmed, adding that the clotting incidents were “very rare” among nearly 200 million people who have received the jab worldwide.

The 1st dose of the COVID-19 vaccine should give you good protection from coronavirus from 3 or 4 weeks after you’ve had it. But you need to have the 2 doses of the vaccine to give you longer-lasting protection.

There is a chance you might still get or spread coronavirus even if you have the vaccine.

However, data shows us that the higher the vaccination rate, the lower the death rate.

Why are vaccines important for you as an expat?

Vaccines have long been important for preventing serious and potentially deadly diseases. They are the best way to protect yourself, your children and people in your community. As an expat, vaccinations are additionally important because you may need protection against diseases of the type that you have not encountered before. Whether you are up to date with all the required vaccinations may also affect your health insurance and access to healthcare.

Research has shown the vaccines help:

• reduce your risk of getting seriously ill or dying from COVID-19
• reduce your risk of catching or spreading COVID-19
• protect against COVID-19 variants

When thinking about becoming an expat, you should research the vaccination programme in your destination country as this may vary from the one you live under at home. Expats with children, or who are pregnant will need to consider any variations between vaccines available and/or required.

Does being vaccinated help with travel and returning to the UK as an expat?

Yes, being vaccinated facilitates freedom to travel if you need to see your family or go abroad for work. Vaccine passports and COVID status apps are commonplace and in some places are required when travelling abroad as proof of your COVID-19 status.

Can you still spread COVID-19 if vaccinated?

Right now, health experts know that the vaccines authorised in the United States, United Kingdom and other countries globally are effective at reducing the chance of infection and drastically reducing the severity of the virus. However, it’s unclear if a vaccinated person can still transmit the virus to other people. There is not enough data yet.

Can you return to work if you have not been vaccinated?

COVID vaccination is not mandatory in the UK for most industries, however, depending on your country of residence, your employer may insist on you getting the jab before return to your workplace. Some private companies have also said their staff must be vaccinated.

Read more about how you can plan your return to work as an expat after COVID-19.

Do you have to isolate if you are vaccinated? Who has to self-isolate?

While you’re no longer legally required to self-isolate if you have COVID-19, you should try to stay at home and away from others to avoid passing on the virus.

Should I get tested for COVID if I have been vaccinated?

Free testing for coronavirus from the NHS has ended for most people in England, so people are no longer advised to take a test. If you still want to get tested and you’re not eligible for a free NHS test, you must pay for a COVID-19 test yourself. You can buy a COVID-19 test from some pharmacies and retailers, in person or online.

What else do expats need to consider about healthcare?

Since Brexit, many countries in Europe require British expats to become official residents in order to access public services including healthcare. There are a number of requirements needed to become resident and not all expats will qualify.

For Britons travelling in Europe, a European Health Insurance Card is being replaced with Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) for accessing healthcare while visiting EU countries.

Position of British expats in the EU becomes increasingly opaque amid compounding influences of Brexit and COVID-19. Expats can still get the COVID vaccine.

Overseas visitors to England will not be charged for vaccination against COVID-19.

Thinking of moving abroad in 2022?

There has never been a better time to think about starting a new life abroad. We have created a guide with a list of best places to live and move abroad for expats, and we have considered healthcare as one of the biggest factors when you make a move. Wherever you decide to move, just make sure you have the confidence of international health insurance.

At William Russell, we have been providing worldwide health cover for 30 years, helping expats like you and their families to settle into their new homes. Speak to us today to find out more about how international health insurance could support you.