Exemptions from self-isolation for contacts
You are not legally required to self-isolate if you are notified you have had close contact with someone with COVID-19 and any of the following apply:
- you’re fully vaccinated
- you’re below the age of 18 years and 6 months
- you’ve taken part in or are currently part of an approved COVID-19 vaccine trial
- you’re not able to get vaccinated for medical reasons
Those who are fully vaccinated
You’re fully vaccinated 14 days after your final dose of an MHRA approved vaccine. having received two doses of an approved vaccine or one dose of the single-dose Janssen vaccine.
This is to allow for an antibody response to develop.
Approved vaccines include:
- MHRA-approved vaccines administered in the UK
- vaccines administered as part of the UK’s vaccination programme overseas
- vaccines administered outside the UK, which are recognised under the UK’s inbound travel policy and are on the World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Use Listing
You will also be considered fully vaccinated if you received one vaccine dose in the UK and one overseas, even if each dose is of a different vaccine, as long as the vaccination used for each dose meets one of the three criteria above.
If you were vaccinated outside the UK, you must be able to show an approved proof of vaccination if asked by NHS Test and Trace, a public health official or an enforcement officer.
If you were fully vaccinated at the time you had close contact with a positive case, you will not be required to self-isolate but should follow the guidance above on daily testing.