Canadian travelers have been able to travel freely to the United States since the pandemic began, but new US travel rules announced on Monday have some Canadians who have received two different doses of the COVID-19 vaccine fear they may soon be rejected. Login.
From the beginning of November, the United States will require Foreign passengers entering the country must be fully vaccinated. The problem is that the United States has not yet agreed to mix COVID-19 vaccines.
“I’m really concerned about this US policy,” said Kathy Heuser of Ancaster, Ontario, who has one dose of COVISHIELD (a trademark of AstraZeneca) and one dose of Pfizer. I’ve booked a flight to Maui departing on November 7.
“I don’t even know if I can cross the border,” she said. “this is the problem.”
At the same time that the United States submits its own immunization requirements, the country will lift the ban on air travel from ready Dozens of states with a red flag.
“We will establish strict protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by travelers to the United States abroad,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Monday.
CBC News asked the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) if it was Millions of Canadians For mixed vaccines, travel to the country will still be permitted when vaccination becomes applicable. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said it is in a “regulatory process” to determine which vaccines will be approved.
The agency has also established its current policy: People are considered fully vaccinated when they receive all recommended doses of the same COVID-19 vaccine such as Pfizer, Moderna or AstraZeneca.
“The CDC does not currently recognize combination vaccines,” spokeswoman Kristin Nordlund said.
But there are exceptions to the rule. The CDC states on its website that Mixed doses of two mRNA vaccinesPfizer and Moderna are acceptable in “exceptional cases” such as the unavailability of the vaccine used for the first dose.
However, combining AstraZeneca with an mRNA vaccine would not meet the requirements, a position taken by cruise ships departing from US ports.
“Guests whose regimen consists of two doses of a single dose of mRNA (Pfizer or Moderna) with a single dose of AstraZeneca will not be considered.” Royal Caribbean cruise line on their website. “We continue to encourage the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other US government officials to re-evaluate this policy.”
“I started crying”
Canada is one of the few countries – Including Germany, Italy, France and Thailand – which distributed mixed vaccines to many of its citizens. But there is no international consensus on this practice.
The CDC said the US is conducting research on the safety and effectiveness of combination vaccines, and that the agency may update vaccination recommendations as soon as new data becomes available.
But that doesn’t comfort mixed-dose Canadians who have already planned a trip to the United States, such as Snowbirds, and those who have booked their winter vacation.
In May, Norma Schrupak of Orillia, Ontario, booked a special family trip to the US Virgin Islands to celebrate her partner’s 75th birthday. The trip consists of a one-week charter flight in February – it costs $26,000.
The problem is that five of the 10 family members scheduled for the trip — including Chrobak and her partner — have a mix of AstraZeneca and Moderna.
“My heart nearly exploded in my chest,” Schrupak said when she learned of upcoming US vaccination requirements for travelers. “I started crying.”
She already paid a $12,500 deposit, and although she did take out travel insurance, Chrobak isn’t sure at this point if she could get the full refund if she had to cancel her trip.
The cruise was a surprise birthday present for Chrobak’s partner. But he’s talking about it publicly in the hope that the Canadian government will pressure the United States to approve hybrid vaccines.
“Someone should take this bull by the horns,” she said. “There must be something that can be done.”
Many Canadians who have received mixed doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have difficulty traveling to countries that do not consider them fully vaccinated. Travel bloggers Karen and Brian Houseer share how “frustrating” rules affect their travel plans and businesses. 6:34
Canada has updated its immunization guidelines in June Recommending mixing doses of the COVID-19 vaccine based on new research showing that it is safe and effective.
Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam said Thursday that Canada is in talks with the United States about the prospective need for a vaccine for foreign travelers.
“We had a series of conversations with our American counterparts,” she said at a press conference. “Essentially, we provided some technical support to help them decide on a combination dose, especially AstraZeneca followed by an mRNA vaccine.”
waiting game
Attorney Henry Chang, who specializes in Canadian and US immigration law, said he is optimistic that the United States will soon change its stance on mixed vaccines.
said Chang, who works with Denton in Toronto.
If the United States does not waive hybrid vaccines by November, some Canadians will still have options. QuebecI ManitobaI Saskatchewan I Alberta They each give a third dose of the vaccine to people in their county who need it to travel.
But that doesn’t help would-be travelers like Cheropak, Ontario, who will have to wait to find out the fate of their flight.
“I feel so devastated that I feel out of control,” she said.
