The U.S. will reopen its shared land border with Canada to non-essential travel in early November, but Canadians with mixed vaccine doses may have reason to be concerned.
At the same time the U.S. reopens the land border, it will start requiring that foreign land and air travellers entering the country be fully vaccinated.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) currently doesn’t recognize mixed COVID-19 vaccines — such as one dose of AstraZeneca, and one dose of Pfizer or Moderna — and hasn’t yet specified if travellers with two different doses will be blocked from entry.
“(The) CDC will release additional guidance and information as the travel requirements are finalized later this month,” said spokesperson Jade Fulce in an email on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, 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.”
