The US has finally announced it will end its vaccine requirement for foreign nationals entering the country as of next week.
Officials said Monday the mandate would end by the end of day on May 11 for international air travellers, federal contractors, and federal employees.
The White House said its vaccine requirements bolstered vaccination across the nation while its “broader vaccination campaign has saved millions of lives.”
“While vaccination remains one of the most important tools in advancing the health and safety of employees and promoting the efficiency of workplaces, we are now in a different phase of our response when these measures are no longer necessary,” a White House statement reads.
It further said the US Department of Health and Human Services and the US Department of Homeland Security will “start the process to end their vaccination requirements for … certain noncitizens at the land border.”
“In the coming days, further details related to ending these requirements will be provided.”
Canada ended its requirement for proof of Covid-19 vaccination for all travellers last October.
Democratic Congressman Brian Higgins, whose district includes a Canada-US border, said the White House confirmed to him that the mandate will be lifted for Canadians crossing at the land border. In a press release, he said three years of barriers to cross-border travel has kept families apart and impeded economic recovery.
“While long overdue, this last lifting of pandemic restrictions is certainly welcome news and critically important as we seek opportunities to encourage a robust cross-border exchange that delivers shared prosperity.”
