Windsor Residents May Soon Be Able To Go To The States For A Vaccine Dose
Mayor Drew Dilkens hopes for a "fully vaccinated summer."
Windsor Regional Hospital is pushing for the opportunity to permit residents to receive cross-border COVID-19 vaccinations with the U.S.
David Musyj, CEO of Windsor Regional Hospital, reached out to the Public Health Agency of Canada to push for the ability for residents to travel to Detroit, MI, to receive a vaccine dose, or to have excess vaccinations be sent up to Windsor.
We\u2019re still waiting to hear back on @WRHospital\u2019s proposal to @GovCanHealth to allow Windsor to receive vaccine support from our neighbours across the river. The only way to make this a two-dose summer is with increased vaccine supply.pic.twitter.com/2CyvRKYGSi— Drew Dilkens (@Drew Dilkens) 1621112408
In an email sent to Narcity, Musyj confirmed anyone who travels to the U.S. for a vaccine may not have to quarantine for 14 days when they return as it is considered an "essential medical service or treatment."
PHAC wrote to Musyj saying travellers must provide certain documentation to border control when crossing.
Written evidence from a licensed Canadian healthcare practitioner that states medical services or treatments outside of the country are essential is required. A traveller also needs written evidence from a licensed health care practitioner in the U.S. to verify these services are able to be provided.
Anyone travelling to the U.S. for a vaccine must also ride in a private vehicle, have a vaccination appointment, and cannot stop for any other reason.
According to CTV News, Mayor Drew Dilkens proposed a motion at the city's council meeting Monday, May 17, asking the federal and provincial governments to work with public health officials in Detroit. He wants them to allow Windsor-Essex residents to "take advantage of numerous offers from U.S. officials to make surplus vaccines available to Canadians without a requirement to quarantine."
Mayor Dilkens is hoping Windsorites can have a "fully vaccinated" summer, instead of the one-dose summer that has been promised by the federal government.