BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - The updated CDC guidance is renewing a push by Congressman Brian Higgins to reopen the border between the United States and Canada.
"If you're vaccinated there's no reason why Americans can't travel to Canada and Canadians to the United States," Higgins said Friday. "This is the breakthrough we've been waiting for 15 months. We've been told the inflection point was when there were available, effective vaccines. You have 3 vaccines approved by the Food & Drug Administration and their efficacy rate is 90%."
The border between the United States and Canada has been closed since last March when coronavirus became widespread in the United States and Canada. The closure has financially devastated the economies of the cities near the border, including Buffalo and Niagara Falls.
Nearly 47% of Americans have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine while more than 36% have been fully vaccinated. In Canada, nearly 39% of the population has received at least one dose, but only 3% have been fully vaccinated.
"To suggest now that we don't have to wear masks and don't have to socially distance is just a confirmation of the effectiveness of the vaccines that have been approved," Higgins said. "If you're vaccinated...you should be able to travel the border. You pose virtually no risk to yourself or others of giving or getting COVID-19. Get the vaccine."
Higgins said he is supportive of efforts to get more vaccines to Canada, which would include the US working with the World Health Organization. However, he stopped short of saying the US should send its doses to Canada because he wants Americans to be taken care of since they are his constituents.
"I think there are enough vaccines to help our Canadian friends get vaccinated," Higgins said. "Canada is a country of 38 million people. We're a country of 328 million people. A third of our population has been fully vaccinated...I think we need to get Americans and encourage Americans to get vaccinated. The ability to travel between the United States and Canada will serve as an incentive for those who may be skeptical or afraid of needles to get vaccinated."
Congressman Chris Jacobs also believes the border should open and wants Canadian leadership to set clarity.
"A high percentage of people in our country are vaccinated," Jacobs said. "We should be treated differently in terms of the ability for people who are fully vaccinated to go up there to see family members. People who own property up there should have that right as well. It's time for more clarity and to begin reopening and getting us back together again.
The border is closed until May 21.
