U.S. to accept international travellers inoculated with WHO-approved COVID-19 vaccines
CBC
The United States will accept international visitors inoculated with COVID-19 vaccines authorized by U.S. regulators or the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said late on Friday.
On Sept. 20, the White House announced the U.S. in November would lift travel restrictions on air travellers from 33 countries including China, India, Brazil and most of Europe who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. It did not specify at that time which vaccines would be accepted.
The new announcement is key for Canadians who received the Oxford-AstraZeneca shot, which was approved by the WHO. The FDA has only approved or listed for emergency use three others: the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) shots.
A CDC spokesperson told Reuters Friday, "Six vaccines that are FDA authorized/approved or listed for emergency use by WHO will meet the criteria for travel to the U.S."
The CDC said it had told airlines about the change earlier this week, "to help them prepare their systems."
"CDC will release additional guidance and information as the travel requirements are finalized."
Airlines for America, a trade group representing American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and others, said it was "pleased by the CDC's decision to approve a list of authorized vaccinations for travellers entering the U.S. We look forward to working with the administration to implement this new global vaccine and testing framework by early November 2021."