Vaccine Tourism: Can You Fly to Another Country to Get Vaccinated Now?

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Updated 7 May 2021

With a few notable exceptions, vaccination drives in many of the world's countries have been slow and sluggish hampered among others by shortages, bureaucracy and distrust of the available vaccines. Even among the world's richest countries supplies are few and far between with access currently limited to priority groups such as the elderly and frontline workers.

So in light of all this, how does a pay-to-access, vaccine vacation to Dubai sound? Would you be for or against it? To help you decide, here's all you need to know about vaccine tourism; its legality, pros and cons, and whether or not it's available to you.

What is vaccine tourism?

Vaccine tourism is the act of visiting another country (or a place still within a country) with the aim of acquiring a vaccine otherwise unavailable to individuals in their country or city of residence. Naturally, with the current pandemic, vaccine tourism is synonymous with the COVID-19 vaccine not yet available worldwide.

Many governments, such as the UK, adopt a system aiming to provide even distribution of the vaccine for its citizens. Consequently, the system does not allow for people to jump the coronavirus vaccine queue, regardless of their financial background.

Those who are outside the priority list have no other option but to simply wait for their turn. Depending on which country they're residing in, getting themselves inoculated may take months or even longer.

Is vaccine tourism legal?

Well, it's complicated. Some countries such as the UK are implementing a system that makes it impossible for anyone to jump the line. Thus it's not legal nor is it possible for foreign visitors to travel to the country and get themselves inoculated.

But if you're eligible for entry into the US, then you just might be able to legally secure your inoculation depending on which state you're visiting. Vaccine rules vary between states with some states such as Alabama, Arizona, California etc not requiring residency status. On the flip side, states like New York, Utah and Nebraska require proof of residency, with vaccine regulations for other states falling somewhere in between.

As such, the question of whether or not vaccine tourism is legal and/or ethical largely depends on the prevailing rules and regulations of the destination country.

Can I travel on a vaccine vacation?

In the case of Dubai, there have been questions being raised as to the possibility of acquiring COVID-19 jabs for tourists and travellers. The official vaccine policy of Dubai states that it does not currently offervaccination jabs to non-residents and tourists.

However, The Guardian has reportedthat an exclusive concierge club by the name of Knightsbridge Circle has managed to secure a partnership with the UAE government in allowing private access to the Sinopharm vaccine for its members. The exclusive club is renowned for delivering high-end experiences and items for its elite clientele, such as arranging lunches with celebrities and providing direct access to purchasing highly coveted fashion items with waiting lists extending to several years.

However, there has been news regarding the availability of several perfectly legal vaccine tourism destinations in which foreigners are invited to visit and take the jab. More on this below.

Where can I travel for vaccine tourism?

As of late, there have been some countries hinting at the possibility of travellers arriving and getting inoculated legally. We'll keep you updated with the latest information.

The United States

Keep in mind that there are no official rules and regulations in place to accommodate foreign travellers in search of vaccination. While those who are eligible to enter the US may travel to states that do not require residency, there are no guarantees that anyone will be able to acquire the vaccine.

The following are states requiring no residency status:

Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennesee, Texas, Virgina.

The Maldives

The Maldives is planning on launching its 'vaxication' program in a bid to boost tourism. The program, dubbed the '3V', will not go ahead until the entirety of the country's 550,000 population has been fully vaccinated. The 3V program will allow tourists to 'Visit, Vaccinate and Vacation.' The Maldives is planning to offer visitors two doses of the vaccine which means that visitors would have to remain in the country for at least several weeks.

Serbia

Serbia has surprisingly managed to acquire some 15 million vaccine doses for its seven million population. A menu consisting of AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Sinopharm and Sputnik V is available for those interested to get the jab. Rather peculiarly, only a handful of Serbs are actually willing to get themselves inoculated for a variety of reasons. As such the Serbian government has offered foreigners the chance to visit the country and get themselves jabbed.

Russia

Russia has also hinted at the possibility of welcoming international tourists for the sole purpose of getting vaccinated. As per Sputnik V's official Twitter account, those interested in vaccine tourism may do so starting from July.

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