This week, in what’s hoped will be a milestone for vaccine mandates and increased adoption, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for the first time formally approved a COVID-19 vaccine. Rather than being approved on an emergency basis only, Pfizer is now a fully-approved vaccine in the United States. And it’s hoped other vaccines like Moderna and Johnson & Johnson’s single dose vaccine will soon be fully approved, too.
Meanwhile, another vaccine commonly used in the UK, Europe - and Canada - hasn’t been recognized by American authorities in any way at all.
As Open Jaw has often reported over the last few weeks, Canadians with one or both AstraZeneca doses are currently not recognized as fully vaccinated in the United States and also subsequently on many cruise lines.
Right now, even if the American government were to reopen its international borders - and land border with Canada - the CDC’s non-recognition of AZ would still keep the U.S. off limits not just to many Canadians, but also to millions of travellers around the world.
The UK vaccine is reportedly the most-used vaccine globally, administered in 176 countries and territories world-wide.
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is declaring that American recognition of AstraZeneca’s COVID vaccine is essential to the global resumption of travel, as the U.S is the third most popular travel destination in the world.
It’s calling urgently on the U.S. to recognize the AZ vaccine, declaring the situation a ‘vaccine vacuum’ that’s leaving the travel industry "in limbo" with consumers unable to plan travel for fear their vaccines will not be accepted.
“It’s crucial the U.S. authorities step forward to formally approve the AstraZeneca vaccine as a matter of urgency to enable cross-border mobility,” Virginia Messina, WTTC Senior Vice President, said.
The WTTC adds it’s concerned that the CDC approval process could take “months.”
“This will leave airlines, cruise lines, tour operators, hotels and the entire Travel & Tourism infrastructure... in significant trouble for the foreseeable future.”
Nonetheless, even without CDC approval, the AZ vaccine may be making some headway in the U.S.
The WTTC noted that NYC just this week added AZ to the list of vaccines it accepts for entry to its indoor venues. It expects other American cities and states to follow suit.
But even that won’t help if travellers can’t enter the country. WTTC is calling for worldwide reciprocal recognition of not just AZ, but all WHO-approved COVID-19 vaccines to facilitate the global restart of travel.
