The government of Canada announced Friday that it will require COVID-19 vaccination as early as September for all federal employees, as well as all commercial air travelers, passengers on trains traveling between provinces, and cruise ship passengers.
The government of Canada is the nation’s largest employer.
More than 71% of eligible Canadians are fully vaccinated, and 82% have gotten at least their first shot — a higher rate than the U.S., where 59% of eligible people are fully vaccinated. However, more than 6 million eligible people in Canada are still unvaccinated. Less than 1% of COVID-19 cases in Canada have been among those who have been fully vaccinated, the government said.
Air Canada responded by calling the vaccine mandate "a welcome step forward in the evolving measures to protect the health and safety of airline employees, customers and all Canadians."
This comes on the heels of Canada's move to reopen its border to U.S. travelers as of Monday, August 9, to shop, vacation and visit — though the U.S. has not reciprocated. U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents who want to enter Canada must be both fully vaccinated and test negative for COVID-19 within three days to cross the border.
Government of Canada to require vaccination of federal workforce and federally regulated transportation sector