QUESTION PERIOD — Health
COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout
December 15, 2021
Senator Gold, my question this afternoon is a follow-up to my questions from November 25 regarding the vaccination status of Canadians and their ability to travel, particularly to the United States. Although, with the news we received this week, I am guessing there will be a lot less travel across the country and certainly across borders.
We know that, as of early November, the United States government approved mixed vaccinations for entry into their country, so my question relates to the mixing of vaccinations. From the outset of the national vaccination rollout, the federal government recommended and encouraged mixing vaccinations to get as many Canadians fully vaccinated as soon as possible for the protection of public health. I believe this was a positive approach because many Canadians were vaccinated in a relatively short period of time.
Like Senator Kutcher, I’m particularly proud of my province of Nova Scotia for their vaccination efforts and for the ease of access to testing there. Nova Scotians, as Senator Kutcher said, can pick up free rapid testing kits at vaccination sites, at testing sites, at libraries and even at their local liquor store. It should be like this across the country.
But back to the mixed vaccinations, which is what my question concerns — some Canadians who have mixed vaccinations are left uncertain. Information is not easy to find and can be confusing or contradictory. Only last week, the EU expressly recommended the use of mix-and-match vaccinations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration in the United States have approved mixed vaccinations. However, this summer, the World Health Organization issued a warning against mixed vaccinations.
There are far too many uncertainties. Understandably, Canadians are confused and worried. Senator Gold, I wonder if you can give us assurances that the federal government will alleviate Canadians’ anxieties regarding mixed vaccinations, particularly in light of the increased spread of the new variants of COVID.
Senator, thank you for raising this question.
The government understands, empathizes and sympathizes with those Canadians who may find themselves unsure of what rules they will be subject to when they seek to travel to the United States or elsewhere. The Canadian government will continue to use its best efforts to provide as clear information as it can to Canadians, and that will continue notwithstanding that the rules are changing rather quickly, not only here in Canada — and Canadians have to be mindful and attentive to those changes as they are announced — but also in many other countries. Each country, like Canada, has the sovereign right to define for itself the rules of entry. It is a complicated and frustrating situation for those who are contemplating travel.
I do want to remind the chamber and those who are watching that I believe the Canadian travel advisory will be — if it has not been already — resurrected, advising Canadians to avoid non-essential travel. That may be cold comfort for those who have already made plans. The fact is, we all have to do our part. The Canadian government will do its part to provide as clear information as it can under the circumstances.
Thank you. That was a good message for Canadians — that we should avoid travel if possible — in light of what’s happening. We understand that things can certainly change in a heartbeat, because one week we’re congratulating ourselves on how well we’re doing and the next week we’re discovering that travel will be limited if not non-existent.
Senator Gold, I guess my question then would be: Is Canada working with other countries to help develop uniform global guidelines? Because, as you rightfully said and I said earlier in my previous question, there are differences in international organizations on what they think about mixed vaccinations, and most people try to follow the laws and the rules — which, I guess, are more important than the laws — so what are the rules? And what are the guidelines? I’m curious to know if we’re sharing our information and our guidelines with international health organizations. Are they sharing their knowledge and their best practices with us?
Thank you. I will answer as accurately as I can.
I know that our government is in constant contact with many of its partners internationally and many international organizations from whom we receive information and to whom we impart information. I assume there is a degree of sharing of information, certainly, between Canada and its partners to the south and other allies. I do not know the particulars, however, of how deep or broad those consultations and collaborations are.
I may make inquiries to that effect, but, again, I would caution all of us to try to keep an eye on Canadian government websites and information that comes from our government. That is probably going to be a quicker way to understand what rules we are subject to than waiting for my answer and for the response to my inquiries, which I will happily make.
