A little clarity would go a long way right now.
While it's good news the U.S. will finally open the land border to Canadians in early November, many of us remain in limbo, for the 'sin' of following Canadian government advice to take the first available vaccine.
Millions of Canadians received mixed doses of Moderna and Pfizer - two very similar products - while up to three million more got mixed doses of viral vector vaccine Astra-Zeneca and one of the two mRNA vaccines.
Yesterday, Dr. Ali Khan, former assistant U.S. Surgeon General, told CBC News he believes the U.S. will likely update its guidelines to accept mixed doses, because studies have shown mixing vaccines is effective.
"The scientific community absolutely understands this," he said. "Essentially what we're waiting for now is a (U.S.) policy that aligns with that practice."
But - and it seems there's always a 'but' these days -- the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) still doesn't recognize mixed COVID-19 vaccines and hasn't yet revealed if travellers with two different doses will be allowed to enter when the land border opens. The most they'll say is that "additional guidance and information" will be released as the travel requirements are finalized later this month.
It gets worse. Around the same time, the U.S. will start requiring that air travellers entering the country be fully vaccinated. Canadians have been able to fly to the U.S. without that requirement throughout the pandemic.
With a much higher vaccination rate than our southern neighbour - and a much lower rate of COVID cases and deaths -- most Canadians will not only accept, but applaud this condition of entry. Except for the millions left hanging by the mixed-dose non-decision.
Canada's travel advisor organization ACTA is making the right move, calling for "immediate and aggressive diplomacy" to ensure the upcoming U.S. travel policy does not prohibit the entry of Canadians based on mixed vaccination status.
My decision to take the Astra-Zeneca vaccine in April followed by a Moderna shot in early July has cost me income. As early as late-July I had to start turning down trips to report on cruises from Florida ports due to my 'vaccine mutt' status. I've been asked to cover a cruise conference in November in Miami, and I still don't know if that's possible. TravelPulse Canada founder John Kirk is in the same boat, so to speak.
Despite the U.S. stance, I was able to fly to Spain through Germany and return from Italy in September. I'm able to visit Costa Rica in November. But I can't get into the country that has arguably mishandled the COVID crisis more than any other?
As ACTA noted, Canada also needs revise its policies, specifically the requirement for a negative molecular PCR test to re-enter the country. On a cruise ship in the Med, I was able to get a test for $60, but I've heard from travel advisors that some resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico are charging between US$100 and US$200 for a PCR test. Talk about a disincentive to travel.
With 81% of the eligible Canadian population now fully vaccinated, and with vaccination a requirement to fly from Canada, it's time to lower the entry bar and allow less-expensive, readily available and faster tests - like the rapid antigen test - to qualify.
Even as an experienced traveller, my trip to Europe was clouded with worries. I needed a QR code to enter Spain, obtained through an online form. Italy required something similar. I needed the ArriveCan app, with my vaccination documents uploaded and more questions answered.
On arrival, when I initially had trouble finding my PCR test receipt at Canada Customs, I was told I faced a $5,000 fine if I didn't locate it. I found it, but it was a stressful encounter. Imagine what that experience would be like for the non-Internet savvy elderly or less-travelled people.
If the travel industry is to recover from this unprecedented crisis, a few things need to happen:
- Governments and international authorities need to align policies and create global tools, so it's not a hodgepodge of rules and forms and apps and online questionnaires.
- Resorts and other tourism entities shouldn't shoot themselves in the foot by treating testing as a profit centre. If they won't, governments should make cost-recovery testing available.
- Canada has had the privilege to be able to obtain and distribute vaccines to the vast majority of its citizens. Many of our favourite destinations haven't been so lucky. That needs to change.
As Jamaica's Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett told TravelPulse Canada recently, vaccination equity is "the elephant in the room." Only a little over 10% of Jamaicans have been fully vaccinated, while other nations are administering third doses and dumping excess vaccines. Not only does Bartlett call this "deleterious to recovery," he also sees it as a threat to world peace.
Canada could help ease this situation by donating vaccines, giving priority to places that graciously welcome our citizens. As Minister Bartlett told me, "no one should be left behind."
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