U.S. does not consider vaccination a reason to let Canadians into the country
Canada and the United States disagreed on what counts as a valid reason to travel.
The other day the Public Health Agency of Canada confirmed that Canadians can travel in personal vehicles across the US land border to get vaccinated against COVID-19. In doing so, they will be exempted from the 14-day self-exclusion period upon their return.
However, the U.S. does not consider vaccination to be a valid reason. The border agency has stated that Canadians who intend to cross the border for the sole purpose of vaccination (even with a doctor's referral) will be denied entry.
"Traveling for the sole purpose of getting vaccinated is not acceptable under current travel restrictions," said a U.S. Border Protection Agency spokesperson.
The Canada-U.S. land border has been closed since March 2020. Despite claims that the countries had already started preliminary talks on opening, the closed border regime was again extended until June 21.
Many Canadians who went to the United States for vaccination were unable to get there. However, David Musidge, head of Windsor Regional Hospital in Ontario, said there were some who were allowed to cross the border.
Some border states — North Dakota, Alaska, Washington and Montana — are allowing Canadian residents to come in for vaccinations. On Tuesday, May 18, hundreds of Alberta residents lined up at the border to get vaccinated in Montana, and they succeeded.
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