As International Travel Returns, Confusion Over Vaccines Reigns

Supply shortages necessitated the introduction of mixed vaccine doses in some countries at the beginning of the vaccination season. As many as 3.9 million Canadians have had their travel hampered because many countries, including the US, only recognise two identical doses of vaccination as complete.

A booster shot to go along with one of the first vaccine doses will likely be the get-out-of-jail card for Canadians, according to Ms. Mills, a Dutch Canadian.

What about your supporting documentation?

The incompatibility of different types of verification software can make it difficult for visitors from outside the country, even after they have been granted entry, to use services like restaurants and museums that require vaccination “passports” or certificates. Jason Trenton, a 49-year-old music technician who received his flu shot in April in New York, was turned away from a Paris restaurant in August because the hostess could not scan his Excelsior Pass, a mobile app issued by the state of New York.

Health Pass was launched in June by the French government and is required to enter bars, restaurants, shopping malls, tourist attractions, and public transportation. For American citizens, the system was unavailable at that time.

A paper vaccination card issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is accepted by most businesses, but Mr. Trenton opted not to carry it around because it is so easy to lose. The only thing you can do is hope that someone will accept your pass without scanning it. ” You can make reservations and plan your day without knowing if it will all work out, which is fine for the most places.

Non-EU visitors to Switzerland, for example, must apply for domestic vaccine certificates required for indoor dining and cultural activities. However, getting one can take up to seven days in some countries like this one.

John Morris, a 59-year-old English teacher who lives in Istanbul, said, “It’s all unnecessary and confusing.” He has made up his mind not to return to the UK until the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine he received in Turkey is recognised by the country. “These rules are unfairly biassed against developing countries,” he argues. I received this excellent vaccine in Turkey, which has a world-class healthcare system, and I intend to take it with me wherever I go.