Disney Cruise Line has placed a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all travellers above the age of five, according to media reports citing the company’s statements. The mandate will be put in place early next year.

The statement, which was published on Disney Cruise’s website, said that the new rules will be applicable starting January 13, 2022. United States health regulators recently approved the COVID vaccine for children between the ages of 5 and 12.

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The cruise line has so far updated its COVID-19 vaccine policy alongside approvals from the United States Food and Drug Administration and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Currently, the company’s COVID vaccine mandate currently compels visitors above the age of 12 to get vaccinated, while those who are not eligible to get the dose are required to produce a negative COVID test, which should be taken between 3 days and 24 hours before the ship sails.

Travellers who are under the vaccine mandated age bracket will also be required to go through the testing requirements before boarding the vessel. The acceptable tests include rapid PCR test, or lab-based PCR tests. Rapid antigen tests will not be accepted, according to reports from Associated Press citing the company’s official statements.

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Disney’s vaccine requirement runs against a Florida law that would fine companies for mandating vaccines. Norwegian Cruise Line’s parent company has sued over the law, and won an injunction against the state for enforcing it. The state has appealed the decision.

So far, only Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine has been approved by the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

In a statement released on the website, the health agency clarified that the effectiveness of the vaccine in children aged between 5 and 12 was recorded at 91%, similar to the results of previously conducted adult trials.