BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) – The Biden Administration in November will require all Canadian travelers who enter the United States to be fully vaccinated.
Currently, the land border between the US and Canada cannot be used by Canadian travelers. However, Canadians can fly into the United States but must adhere to the policy.
Still, the new policy has created a question about what it means to be fully vaccinated.
"Currently, the CDC is saying if you have a mixed vaccination, meaning shot one is from Moderna and shot two is from Pfizer, you are not deemed fully vaccinated for US immigration purposes," Rosanna Berardi, an immigration attorney, said. "In Canada, because of the supply issues and shortages, many, many Canadians are mixed-vaccinated, meaning they have two different kinds of vaccinations in their system."
It's unknown exactly which date the policy will take effect. It's also unknown if the updated policy is a sign the land border closure will end come October 21.
Berardi said it's a big problem and wants the CDC to change the definition. She said the other countries were more aggressive in urging vaccines for its citizens and saying it's okay to mix doses.
"People were just (mixing them) based on the recommendations they were getting," she said. "It seems foreign to us as Americans because of the glut of vaccines we had available. In other countries, that just wasn't the case."
Berardi said the change in policy is important, especially for snowbirds from Canada. She's recommending Canadians who spend the winters in the south to come early before the policy takes effect.
