Rep. Higgins assesses updated CDC COVID-19 vaccination guidance regarding international travel

After a recent request from U.S. Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) updated guidance on recognizing people as fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The White House indicated it will reopen land ports of entry on Nov. 8, 2021, after the sites have been closed since March of 2020 due to the pandemic.

Higgins, co-chair of the Canada-U.S. Interparliamentary Group and the Congressional Northern Border Caucus, wrote to the CDC Director seeking clarity regarding which vaccines the United States will accept when the border reopens to fully vaccinated travelers.

“Nearly four million Canadians, equivalent to ten percent of their fully vaccinated population, have received mixed doses of the available mRNA COVID-19 vaccines – this includes the AstraZeneca vaccine,” wrote in the Oct. 14 letter. “At present, the AstraZeneca vaccine does not appear on the CDC’s list of approved and authorized vaccines for use in the United States, and the CDC website recommends against mixing doses of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.”

Per the CDC guidance, individuals can be considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receipt of the last vaccination dose if they have received any single dose of an FDA approved/authorized or WHO EUL approved single-dose series or any combination of two doses of an FDA approved/authorized or WHO emergency use listed COVID-19 two-dose series.

“After months of nothing but silence, finally we have a date for when the border will reopen and some guidance on who will qualify as vaccinated,” Higgins said. “This should have happened long ago. The people, businesses, and communities impacted by this extended shutdown deserved that transparency. Nevertheless, we are incredibly eager to welcome our Canadian friends, family, and neighbors back to Western New York. This reunion is long overdue.”