Thought of the Day - May 19 2021 - No Quarantine Needed Following a "US Vaccination Roadtrip"

You can't make this stuff up, but someone is. It has been a week since the disclosure that there is no information on how to report that you have been vaccinated in the US, at the Provincial or Federal level, because Canada has no plans to record it ( Thought of the Day - May 11 2021 - Vaccine Wars ). Now we hear that Canadian residents are allowed to head to the United States for a COVID-19 vaccine and that they do not have to quarantine upon their return. The conditions? A note from a licensed health-care provider in Canada that the inoculation is necessary, and written proof of vaccination from the licensed U.S. provider. The exemption offers people within driving range of border-states awash in vaccines, a relatively simple way to get a coveted shot quickly. Information on the regulations and exemption, contained on the Federal government's website, was confirmed by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) was confirm at the beginning of the week.

Just in case you missed the insanity of this. First, remember the main measure taken in Canada to manage this third wave of COVID-19, besides social distancing, is actually banning travel. Second, the Canadian/US border is still supposed to be closed for non-essential travel (and I find it hard to believe a vaccination is a medical emergency - it is too late if you have already been exposed, and a vaccination is not a treatment). Third, there is no mention of any testing required either in or out (from a Canadian perspective anyway). Fourth, you are at the highest risk of contracting COVID-19 just after you have received a shot. Fifth, oh what's the point . . .

I mean heck, this sure flies in the face of all the other information that has been posted by Canadian authorities. Here are some excerpts from the Federal pages that are referenced concerning arrivals (flying and driving) in Canada.

This one, with instructions on quarantine (https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/isolation):

or this one, that covers exemptions from quarantine (https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/isolation#exemptions):

Of course, the timing of this revelation could not be better. As the good weather is now here, snow-birds, who wish to come home for the summer, are all keen to hear about options that might let them avoid quarantine. When asked, there was some back-peddling by PHAC about this only applying to specific purpose trips and that there is not supposed to be any stopping along the way etc., but the door is now open, and it will certainly make border screening even more difficult.

Remember as Confusious said, "Good things come in threes". I can't wait for next week's revelation concerning Canadians getting vaccinated in the US.

Cheers Cliff