So you've had your second dose. What now? - Action News
Home WebMail Sunday, November 10, 2024, 11:39 PM | Calgary | 0.4°C | Regions Advertise Login | Our platform is in maintenance mode. Some URLs may not be available. |
Politics

So you've had your second dose. What now?

The number of fully vaccinatedCanadians is slowly risingand all levels of government are under pressureto start outlining whichrestrictions can be lifted for those who've gotten their second doses and how they'll be expected to prove it.

If you're fully vaccinated, what you can do depends on where you live

People enjoy drinks and friends on outdoor patios during the COVID-19 pandemic in downtown Toronto on Friday, June 11, 2021. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press)

The number of fully vaccinatedCanadians is slowly risingand all levels of government are under pressureto start outlining whichrestrictions can be lifted for those who've gotten their second doses and how they'll be expected to prove it.

The Public Health Agency of Canada(PHAC)has said it will offer someguidance ... eventually. But right now, the provinces are pretty much going their own way,which worries some medical experts who fear that a patchwork of rules could undermine the progress made in containing the pandemic.

"I do think the federal government should be putting out some framework," said Dr. Sumon Chakrabarti, an infectious disease physician. "Certainly at the provincial level, at the municipal level, having something that gives us guidance.

"We have to give some guidance on what to do is safe. Otherwise, people are just going to forge their own path."

Some provinces have limited guidelinesfor fully-vaccinated individuals, mostly fortravel and self-isolation. Others are directing all residents to follow public health measures, regardless of theirvaccination status.

British Columbia

B.C.'s "Restart Plan" applies to everyone in B.C., regardless of their vaccination status.

Individualscan chooseto receive eithera paper copy or adigital copy of their immunization record cards. The province also recommends registering withHealth Gateway, wheredigital immunization records areavailable to British Columbians who have receivedthe vaccine.

People eat lunch in the parking lot outside the Pink Pearl Chinese restaurant, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, May 25, 2021. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)

The provincial government says it's also working with Ottawa and the other provinces and territories on developinga pan-Canadian proof-of-COVID-19 health status documentfor international travel.

Alberta

In Alberta, health restrictions currently apply to all Albertans, including those who are fully and partially vaccinated. The provincial government says it hasno plans to change this approach at this time.

There are some exceptions. If you're fully vaccinated in Alberta and you've been exposed to aCOVID-19 case and if you have no symptoms you don't have to quarantine. If you do have symptoms,you must isolate for 10 days; the province recommends you gettested because you can endyour isolation early if you test negative.

If you'repartially vaccinated in Alberta and you're exposed to an active case, and if you have no symptoms, you must still quarantine for 10 days. The province recommends that you get tested; you can leavequarantineif you test negative on day 7 or later.If you test negative before day 7, you must remain in quarantine and you'll needa second negative test on day 7 or later to exitquarantine.

Bonnie Healey, health director for the Blackfoot Confederacy, chats with southern Alberta residents lining up to get shots of a COVID-19 vaccine from a Montana tribe in Carway, Alta., Tuesday, May 18, 2021. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)

Albertans getpaper copies oftheir personal immunization records. Those wantingan electronic copymust register for a MyHealth Records account.

As forthe idea of aproof-of-vaccination document, Alberta Premier Jason Kenneyhas drawn a line in the sand already."We've made it absolutely clear that we will not be facilitating so-called vaccine passports," he said on May 18.

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan's Re-Open Roadmap indicates that all public health measures will be lifted when 70 per centof people12 years of age and older receive at least one dose. The province has said that threshold could be crossed as early as July 11.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe receives an adhesive bandage after his dose of the Pfizer vaccine at a COVID-19 vaccination drive-thru clinic at Evraz Place in Regina on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Mark Taylor/The Canadian Press)

Saskatchewan is providing residents with proof of vaccination but this is not for travel purposes.Premier Scott Moe says he's engaging with the federal government on developing avaccine passport for travel.

Manitoba

Manitobanswho've had two dosesare already starting to enjoy thebenefits.

Fully vaccinatedManitobans are now able to travel within Canada without having to self-isolate for two weeks whenthey return to the province.

Premier Brian Pallister announced Tuesday thatimmunization cardswill be provided to individuals two weeks after they've received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister receives his second COVID-19 vaccine from Dr. Joss Reimer, medical lead of Manitoba's vaccination effort, at the vaccine supersite in Winnipeg on Thursday, June 10, 2021. (Mike Deal/The Canadian Press)

The digital and physical vaccination card shows onlythe person's first and last names and a scannableQR code that will provethe person has been fully vaccinated. No personal health information can be accessed throughthese cards.

Also, any fully vaccinated Manitobanidentified as a close contact of a COVID-19 case is exempt from self-isolation.

The premier says additional benefits for the fully vaccinatedwill be announced soon.

People can apply for the card througha new online portalonthe government's website.

Ontario

Ontario is still waiting to see what other jurisdictions do. For now, all Ontariansare expected to follow the same rules.

Theoffice ofOntario's chief medical officer of health is consulting with experts on new rules for the fully vaccinated.But the province is alsourging Health Canada andPHACto release federal guidelines for fully vaccinated individuals, as the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC)did in the U.S.

Each individual vaccinated in Ontario receives a printed vaccinationreceipt. Those thatconsent to receive information electronicallyreceive a digital receiptvia email.

Jessica Lundeen, left, waits to hug her two kids Austin Lundeen, 12, centre, and Chantal Lundeen, 14, after receiving their COVID-19 vaccine at Gordon A. Brown Middle School in Toronto on Wednesday, May 19, 2021. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press)

The province is calling onthe federal government to come up with a proof-of-vaccination documentthat is recognized both by Health Canada and byinternational allies, to open up travel. It also wants mandatory testing for travellers arriving in Canadato identifynew variants.

Quebec

As of June 25, peoplein Quebecwho have been fully vaccinated can remove their masks at private gatherings.

The province also has lifted somerestrictions in residential and long-term care centres (CHSLDs) and seniors residences for fully vaccinated individuals.

Quebec's proof of vaccination document comes in both paper and electronic forms.It includes a QR code which, when scanned,givedates of vaccination, thename of the vaccine used andthename of the person who received it,along withdate of birth and gender.

JJ Fixman, 14, receives a COVID-19 vaccine shot from Stara Sinanan at a COVID-19 vaccination site in Montreal, Saturday, May 22, 2021. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press)

Quebec hasn't worked out yet how this document will be used for travel or other aspects of post-pandemic life. The province says itis working with the federal government on a vaccination passport.

New Brunswick

Under phase two of the province's reopening strategy, travellers from the rest ofCanada and Maine who've hadleast one dose, andinternational travellers who've receivedtwo doses, will not be required to isolate after entering the province.

The province expects to enterphase two on July 1.

New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs receives his second dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from Dr. Jennifer Russell, N.B. chief medical officer of health, in Fredericton on Friday, June 4, 2021. (Stephen MacGillivray/The Canadian Press)

Until enough people are fully vaccinated to stop the spread of COVID-19, all New Brunswickersare expected tofollow the same guidelines.The province says it expects to move to "green level" where all restrictions have been lifted by Aug. 2, assuming 75 per cent of allNewBrunswickersage12 and older have received their second doses.

New Brunswick providespaper copies ofimmunization records.

The provincial government says it wants to be in step with what other jurisdictions are doing on vaccine passports.It says it will follow discussions with other provinces and territories and the federal government.

Nova Scotia

Right now, anyone who has received one or two doses of avaccine in Nova Scotia must continue to follow all public health measures, including the one requiring quarantineon arrival in the province.

The only exceptions to the quarantine ruleare rotational workers who have no symptoms and have been fully vaccinated at least two weeks before arriving in Nova Scotia. (You can find Nova Scotia's updated guidance for rotational workers here.)

Kelly Clark receives the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine from Registered Nurse Kevin Orrell at Nova Scotia's first drive-thru vaccination clinic at the Dartmouth General hospital in Dartmouth, N.S. on Monday, May 10, 2021. (Andrew Vaughan/The Canadian Press)

EveryNova Scotian receives an immunization record with their vaccine.The record is digital and can be accessed online at any time.

The province is discussing proof-of-vaccination tools with the federal government and other provinces and territories.

P.E.I.

In P.E.I., public health and travel measures will remain in place until 80 per centof eligible Island residents are fully immunized. The target date for reaching that benchmark is September 12.

The province says travel restrictions shouldstart easing around June 27. That should open up travel to P.E.I. from other Atlantic provinces and end the isolation requirementfor fully or partially vaccinated travellers who have received a negative test(those travellers will still have to file a travel declaration form with the province).

P.E.I. Chief of Nursing Marion Dowling receives her first dose of COVID-19 vaccine May 6, 2021, at the Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown. (Kirk Pennell/CBC)

As of June 27,Islanders who have received one or both doses won't have to self-isolate upon returning home from travel within Atlantic Canada, provided they get tested when they return.

The province says that by roughlyAugust 8, itwill admitdomestic travellers fromoutside of Atlantic Canada(they'll still have to filepre-travel declarations) andfully vaccinated travellers won't be required to isolate. After that date,Islanders who are fully vaccinated will be able totravel within Canada and without havingto self-isolate when they return home, provided they get tested.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Step 1 of the government's reopening plan whichNewfoundland and Labrador says could start as soon as July 1 opens the province'sborders to non-essential domestic travel.

In this phase of the province's reopening plan, fully vaccinated Canadians will not have to face testing or self-isolation requirements. Canadian travellers who are partially vaccinated will have to show a negative PCR test within three days of their departure, or self-isolate upon arrival inNewfoundland and Labradoruntil they receive a negative test result.

Travellers will have to submit a form upon arrival. The province says it is working through processes now that will allow people to upload their proof-of-vaccination to the travel form.

Newfoundland and Labrador's chief medical officer of health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald smiles at St. John's public health nurse Ellen Foley-Vick as she puts a Band-Aid on her arm after giving her the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in St. John's, Nfld., on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020. (Sarah Smellie/The Canadian Press)

"We are working right now on a way that allows anyone who's in the province to be able to get their vaccine record, should they need it for travel or for other reasons," said Dr. Janice Fitzgerald, chief medical officer of health for Newfoundland and Labrador.

"Certainly these are questions that we're looking at and these conversations are happening at all levels, even at the larger tables across the country that we sit at."

Nunavut

The Nunavut Department of Health asks that fully vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals continue to follow all existing public health guidance for now.

Each Nunavutresident receives a small paper wallet card with the first and second doses.Individuals may also choose to use their own immunization booklets or theCanImmunize appto record their COVID19 shots alongwith their other vaccinations.

Josephee Adams, 70, was the first vaccine recipient in Nunavut. (Government of Nunavut)

Health care providers also document all vaccine doses in the electronic medical record, Meditech. With consent, Meditech is used to verify vaccination status so that people canenter the territory without having to isolate.

The Government of Nunavut has maintained that vaccinepassports would be a federal initiative and hasnot made any requests of the Government of Canada about such documentation so far.

As of June 14,fully vaccinated travellers bound for Nunavut will no longer have to self-isolate.

N.W.T.

TheNorthwest Territories' pandemic experience has been almost unique in Canada; ithas not had to go in and out of lockdowns because it's seenvery low COVIDcase counts andhospitalizationsand no deaths.Regardless of theirvaccination status, residentscan stilleat at local restaurants, play sports, gethaircuts and shop at local stores.

On June 9,the territorialgovernment released its plan to end pandemic restrictions. It says it hopes to ease self-isolation restrictions for travellers by early summer.

Covid Immunization Response Team (CIRT) Movement Control Coordinator Patrick Jacobson deplanes in Yellowknife with a thermal shipper carrying 1,170 doses of the Pfizer vaccine. (Government of the Northwest Territories)

Vaccine information in N.W.T. is entered into the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system. The territoryoffers residents a card for their personal records only; they canrequest vaccine records if they'reneeded for employment or other reasons.

The N.W.T. says it will comply with a federal vaccine certification systemonce it's in place.

Yukon

All individuals in Yukon have to follow most of the same public health guidelines, regardless of theirvaccination status.

Restrictions wereloosened onMay 25for fully vaccinated people entering the territory. They no longer need to self-isolate upon entry. These individuals will have to sign a declaration that they have been fully vaccinated and provide consent for the verification of their vaccination status in order to be exempt from the 14 day self-isolation requirement.

Yukon's Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Brendan Hanley receives his COVID-19 vaccine from nurse Angie Bartelen at the Yukon Convention Centre in Whitehorse on March 3. (The Canadian Press/Mike Thomas)

Yukon's most currentplan forliftingrestrictions can be found here.

Vaccinated individuals get a vaccination card but can also request a formal record.

The premier, Sandy Silver has called for a national vaccine verification registry.

Add some good to your morning and evening.

Your daily guide to the coronavirus outbreak. Get the latest news, tips on prevention and your coronavirus questions answered every evening.

...

The next issue of the Coronavirus Brief will soon be in your inbox.

Discover all CBC newsletters in theSubscription Centre.opens new window

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Google Terms of Service apply.