White House Says U.S. Land Borders to Reopen to Vaccinated Travellers Nov. 8

White House Says U.S. Land Borders to Reopen to Vaccinated Travellers Nov. 8
The International Rainbow Bridge connecting Niagara Falls, Ont. and Niagara Falls, N.Y. is shown on October 13, 2021. The United States border will reopen to non-essential travel in November to fully vaccinated Canadians after a record long closure due to concerns over COVID-19. (The Canadian Press/Aaron Lynett)
The Canadian Press
10/15/2021
Updated:
10/15/2021

WASHINGTON—A White House official says the U.S. will announce today that it will reopen its land borders to vaccinated non−essential visitors on Nov. 8.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss a policy not yet made public, says travellers will need to show proof of vaccination to Customs and Border Protection officials upon request.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is currently working on the operational details, such as what will constitute acceptable proof and which “very limited” exceptions might be allowed.

Vaccines approved by both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the World Health Organization will be accepted for international air travel, and officials expect the same will be the case at land borders.

What’s still not clear is whether people who received doses of two different vaccines, a condition that impacts roughly four million Canadians, will be considered to be fully vaccinated.

New York congressman Brian Higgins has written to the CDC to urge the agency to promptly clarify its stance on mixed−dose vaccines.