Queen’s Park asks Ottawa to address out-of-country concerns about mixed vaccines

Ontario has written to Ottawa asking for help convincing the world a mixed regime of COVID vaccine can be considered a full vaccination.

Some countries have yet to recognize mixed vaccines, which is making it difficult for some Canadians to travel abroad.

Ontario has asked the federal government to work with the World Health Organization to ensure Canadians who received mixed COVID-19 vaccines will be recognized for international travel as border measures lift.

Ontario and other provinces have offered residents the option of taking one shot each of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines or an mRNA shot after a first of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The Ontario Government says The AstraZeneca vaccine, which is not approved by the U.S. Federal Drug Authority, should be seen as valid internationally “on any certificate or passport.” It is listed for emergency use by the WHO.

Some European Union countries have used a similar mixed-dose approach to vaccination. Several cruise lines have also indicated they won’t accept customers who have received different types of vaccines, or mixed brands.

Eighty per cent of adults in Ontario have had at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose and 67 per cent are fully vaccinated.