“US Lifts Vaccine Mandate for Air Travelers – What It Means for Arrival in United States”

One of the last pandemic restrictions in the world is about to be lifted. On May 1, the Biden administration announced it was scrapping most of the remaining federal COVID-19 vaccine requirements effective May 11.

That’s when the U.S. national public health emergency over the virus will expire.

For air travelers, this means they will no longer be required to present proof of vaccination when arriving in the United States by air.

According to CBC, the United States “has also begun the process of waiving vaccine requirements for…non-citizens at US land borders.”

Biden administration officials have said the United States will continue to monitor the entry of new strains of the COVID virus into the country through its aircraft sewage testing program.

“We believe we are in a much better position to identify if a new variant emerges in the United States and to respond effectively,” White House COVID-19 coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha told The Associated Press. .

“And I think that’s what makes the need to present proof of vaccination for travelers less necessary at this time. »

This decision was immediately welcomed by at least one politician representing a border community with Canada. US House Representative, Democrat Brian Higgins, called the lifting of the vaccination mandate “long overdue”.

“This latest lifting of pandemic restrictions is certainly welcome news and critically important as we seek opportunities to encourage robust cross-border exchange that delivers shared prosperity,” he said in a statement. .

This decision by the United States aligns with that of most other Western countries which now treat the virus as endemic.

The Canadian government still recommends that anyone over the age of 65, as well as those with compromised health, get the COVID shot. However, CBC reports that the National Advisory Committee on Immunization says average Canadians are “probably OK without needing another dose – for now.”