Canadians 'may' be able to travel to U.S. for vaccines without quarantine on return

If Canadians were to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in Detroit, they might be able to do so without having to quarantine upon reentry to Canada.

That's according to a letter sent from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) to Windsor Regional Hospital CEO David Musyj.

Musyj, who is one of a number of local officials pushing for Canadians to gain access to U.S. vaccines,wrote to the federalagency requesting a ruling on whether getting a vaccine would be considered receiving an "essential medical service or treatment" under the current emergency measures at the border.

Receivingsuch services is one of the reasons a traveller could be exemptfrom the two week-quarantine and COVID-19 testing requirements laid ut by the federal government.

In a follow up note to PHAC, Musyj indicatedthat a large health-care institution in Detroit is interested inproviding vaccines toCanadians.

PHAC told Musyj that receiving a COVID-19 vaccine would be considered essential, and ifCanadian travellers meet certain requirements, they "may" be exempt from the re-entryrequirements.

The exception would be in place for a traveller as well as a support person, and they must arrive in a private vehicle with a letter from a health-care professional indicating that the treatments are essential, as well as written evidence from a professional on the other side of the border stating that the treatment had occurred.

Theletter said that the onus is on the traveller to provide the proper documentation, andsuggested that no other stops could be made on the trip.

As Musyjpointed out in a note to staff at the hospital, any Canadians entering the U.S. would also be subject to U.S. entry requirements.