Here’s what you need to know about the new Canadian vaccine passports

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Thursday October 21 that Canada will have a standardized vaccine passport, with the costs of the document covered through the federal budget.

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But while the vaccination cards for many provinces and territories are already compatible with the federal format, the BC card, one of the first implemented in the country, is not immediately compatible and it will take some time to harmonize the two cards, according to authorities. provincial.

When will the federal immunization card be available and how do I get it?

According to the BC Ministry of Health, the federal vaccination card will be available from October 30 and can be accessed in the same way that people access their BC vaccination card: using the health portal, at through the website of the Ministry of Health, by phone or by mail.

Will the federal immunization card replace our existing one, or will we need both (ie one for restaurants and one for travel)?

According to Marielle Tounsi, Public Affairs Officer at the Ministry of Health, BC will continue to maintain the provincial vaccination card for non-essential activities in BC, such as restaurants and sports games, while offering the new federal proof of vaccination card. for those who need it to travel.

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That means that, for now at least, British Columbia residents who want to travel domestically or internationally will need to have two separate vaccination cards: the BC card for local services and a federal card for travel.

Why can’t I use the federal immunization card to access local services in BC?

Tounsi said that, for example, restaurant employees and concert vendors don’t require the detailed information provided on federal vaccination cards.

“More than 3.6 million people have downloaded the BC vaccine card and it is working well,” he wrote.

Tounsi did not provide details on when, or if, the provincial vaccination card would be phased out.

BC tour operators have not yet raised concerns about the two card requirement, according to Walt Judas, executive director of the BC Tourism Industry Association.

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“While it may be inconvenient to go through the process of downloading a federal version of the existing BC vaccination card, we encourage consumers to do so once it is available in BC, as it will eventually become standard and recognized throughout. the provinces and territories, as well as in other countries, ”Judas wrote in response to emailed questions.

“We hope that current provincial immunization cards will continue to be recognized within British Columbia for the foreseeable future without the need to carry a federal version,” unless a person plans to travel outside of the province.

Will I be able to travel within Canada with my current BC card?

According to the federal government, until the federal card is available in BC, you can continue to use the BC card as proof of vaccination.

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Ottawa has said there will be a one-month grace period until November 30 for those in the middle of the vaccination process. Otherwise, as of October 30, you will need the federal card to provide proof of vaccination to travel on trains or airplanes in Canada.

I travel internationally. What vaccination card or documentation will I need?

According to the federal government, the federal immunization card will be required for any trip to or from a Canadian airport or other federally regulated transportation (such as Via Rail or Rocky Mountain Express).

According to a press release from the prime minister’s office, travelers can continue to use their provincial vaccination voucher for domestic or international travel “if their province has not yet issued the standardized vaccination voucher.”

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Sukhi Dosanjh, an agent for Four Corners Destinations in Surrey, said they are recommending that all travelers get vaccinated and have a copy of the vaccination card when traveling internationally. He had yet to receive inquiries about the new federal immunization card, but said it was still early and many customers were asking about travel for “sometime in the new year.”

Avery Campbell, director of advocacy and industrial relations for the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies, wrote in an email that ACTA is happy that the federal government has adopted SMART Health Cards for vaccine cards, because the standard is “ widely recognized by major travel destinations. “

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