Vaccine Passports [should we be concerned?]

There has been much speculation surrounding vaccine passports in Canada and elsewhere. It’s not just idle talk though; it is becoming a reality in some countries. What does this mean for our Canadian and U.S. travellers, and do you need one?

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Vaccine Passports

A vaccine passport is a digital document that provides proof that you have received your vaccine and are eligible to travel; they could also be required to attend public places such as restaurants. For those who are fully vaccinated and keen to travel and get out, this is not an issue.

Many countries either already have this in place including Europe and the UK, are making plans to introduce it, or are sitting on the fence.

Concerns about the Vaccine Passports

Several concerns are surrounding the vaccine/vaccine passport. Not everyone feels it is a good thing.

Previously, mixed vaccines were accepted but now they aren’t in some countries. What does this mean for travellers who want or are told they need a vaccine passport?
Is it ethical? Will it be required to attend large gatherings or even to eat in a restaurant?
This alleviates the need for quarantining and masking but those very same people can still contract or spread the virus.
Does the government have the right to tell us what to inject in our bodies and then provide a passport to prove it? It’s not the same as being told to wear a mask or to refrain from public gatherings.
How will the global poor or low-income families be affected?
Many people believe there is a sense of injustice or unfairness for certain races. As of August 2, 2021, the CDC stated that out of 59% of those receiving one dose, 59% were white while the rest was made up of black 10%, Hispanic 16%, Asian 6%, and Native Indian 1%), other race 8%.
How secure will a vaccine passport be? Will it be a digital document or an app? Could fake ones be sold on the black market?
No scientific data is proving that vaccinations will prevent transmission. None of the vaccines are 100% effective – new variants change effectiveness. Israel, which is one of the most vaccinated countries, found that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was only 40.5% effective. CDC is also advising that vaccinated people can still spread the virus and should continue to wear masks.
How effective will current vaccinations be against new variants?
There is a danger of dividing those who are pro-vax and those non-vax – it’s already happening among families and friends.
People with medical conditions may not be able to get the vaccine – will they get an exemption to the passport or be left out?
If there is no government mandate, does this mean private companies and businesses can create their passport system?
There are privacy concerns since passports would contain personal information that could be shared with others. Again, this begs the question – are they ethical?

Where Does Canada Stand?

As of August 12^th, Canada plans to introduce standardized proof of vaccination (vaccine passports) for foreign travel by early fall. Such data as the type of vaccine, date of vaccine, and where it was given will be recorded. This will provide ease of travel for foreigners entering and leaving Canada.

Trudeau says provinces will be allowed to make their own decisions regarding domestic vaccine passports. To keep up to date with travel restrictions within Canada check here.

Manitoba is onboard with its vaccination passport called the Manitoba Digital Immunization Card.

Nova Scotia is considering a ScotiaPass for their residents and businesses who wish to control access to their establishments.

Alberta is saying no to the Vaccination Passport.

Quebec plans to provide a smartphone app in September. Without this, people can expect a refusal to enter restaurants bars and other non-essential businesses.

If you want or need proof of your vaccination now, you can contact the relevant province or territory via their website for more information.

Returning Canadians to Canada must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test before returning and must take a second test upon arrival. The government will pay for the arrival test but travellers are responsible for the pre-test at their own expense.

Who Is Allowed to Enter Canada

As of August 9^th, all American citizens who are fully vaccinated
As of August 9th, French citizens who reside in Saint-Pierre-et Miquelon and are fully vaccinated
As of September 7^th, all other foreign nationals who qualify for the fully vaccinated exemption (tentative)

Resources: Travel.gc.ca

You must upload proof of vaccination in the ArriveCan app.

Note: Recovering from COVID-19 is not enough for foreigners to enter Canada. You must still have the accepted vaccine and only one dose (unless it is the Johnson & Johnson) is not considered as fully vaccinated.

Eligible Vaccines to Enter Canada

At the moment, Canada recognizes and accepts four vaccines:

AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD (ChAdOx1-S, Vaxzevria, AZD1222)
Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty, tozinameran, BNT162b2)
Moderna (mRNA-1273)
Janssen/Johnson & Johnson (Ad26.COV2.S)

Non-Eligible Vaccines to Enter Canada

There are six vaccines that Canada will not accept and possibly some others:

Bharat Biotech (Covaxin, BBV152 A, B, C)
Cansino (Convidecia, Ad5-nCoV)
Sinovac (CoronaVac, PiCoVacc)
Gamalaya (Sputnik V, Gam-Covid-Vac)
Sinopharm (BBIBP-CorV, Sinopharm-Wuhan)
Vector Institute (EpiVacCorona)

It is interesting to note that back in April of 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) did not sanction vaccine passports.

Where Does the U.S. Stand?

Currently, the U.S. doesn’t have a plan for vaccine passports. Biden stated there wouldn’t be a national vaccine passport, but rather it would be left up to the individual states to implement one if they chose.

New York will be the first state to demand proof of vaccines as early as September of this year.

As of July 1, 48 states have banned or said vaccine passports are not required, and two states have supported and implemented them – Hawaii and New York.

Resources: Vaccine Passports

Vaccine Requirements in the U.S.

Currently, there are no requirements for travellers visiting the U.S. or residents leaving to travel abroad to receive a vaccine.

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) reminds that all passengers (including U.S. citizens) travelling to the United States by air must have a negative COVID-19 test regardless if they are fully vaccinated, no more than three days before travel or a document proving recovery in the past three months before boarding.

For U. S. residents, there are only three vaccines recognized and accepted to be fully vaccinated:

Pfizer-BioNTech
Moderna
Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen

Final Thoughts

Even as I write this, there are new changes. The federal government is mandating that all federal employees be vaccinated by the end of October as well as most commercial passengers travelling by air, large ships such as cruise ships, and rail by early fall.

If travel plans are in your future, you would do well to check the requirements for leaving your country and returning, and the requirements for the country you are entering and leaving. It is up to you to find out if you are required to get a vaccine passport. You can expect to see this in the news a lot in the coming days and for rules to change almost daily!

As a Canadian, you will also need to check and see if your double shot of two different vaccines is allowed in the country you are going to. The federal government is working with other countries to resolve this issue. Is it any wonder that travellers are confused?

And if Canadians don’t have enough to deal with, the federal government under Trudeau has called an early election on September 20^th, only 2 years after the last vote. The election results could very well change the future course of how COVID-19 and the pandemic will be handled.

What are your thoughts on the Vaccine Passport? Are you for it or against it, and why?

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