A cross-border COVID-19 vaccine clinic is returning for two days in June following outrage from the public after “government bureaucracy” led to its cancellation earlier last week.
The program is being offered even though United States authorities have recently said crossing the border to receive vaccine is not allowed under current travel rules, while Canadian officials have maintained there are no exemptions from testing and quarantine requirements for those returning to Canada after receiving a jab.
The Aamskapi’piikani Medicine Line vaccine clinic, operated by a Montana First Nation, began offering COVID-19 vaccine to members of the Blackfoot Confederacy — and later anyone who was willing to make the trip — last month.
The Blackfoot Confederacy includes three First Nations in Alberta and the Blackfeet Tribe in Browning, Mont.
An official from the U.S. First Nation said it was “sad and disappointed” when the clinic was told to stop operations because of what it called government interference from both Canada and the U.S., but added the decision has since been reversed.
Postmedia was unable to reach the U.S. border agency or the Blackfeet Tribe for comment on Saturday to explain the apparent policy change.
First and second doses of Moderna or Pfizer will now be offered to travellers on June 8 and 9 at the Canada-U.S. Caraway border crossing, with priority for Blackfoot members, according to the confederacy website. The crossing is about 100 kilometres south of Lethbridge.
A statement posted on the website asks people to bring their passport or Indian status card to cross the border. They said a letter will be provided to waive Canada’s 14-day isolation requirement.
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) once again outlined eligibility to travel across the border in a statement issued Saturday, highlighting that U.S. Customs and Border Protection “has been noted publicly as saying that travel for the sole purpose of obtaining a vaccination is not permitted under current travel restrictions.”
PHAC said Indigenous Canadians can enter the U.S. if they have dual citizenship or are eligible under the Jay Treaty.
The public health agency also said people who previously travelled to the clinic used the essential medical care provision to obtain an exemption from quarantine and testing requirements upon return to Canada.
“This exemption requires travellers to have written evidence from a licensed health care practitioner in Canada outlining that the service or treatment obtained outside of Canada is essential, and a letter from a licensed health care practitioner in the U.S. stating the treatment or service was provided in that country,” said PHAC.
However, the agency previously clarified that any Canadians travelling to the United States for the purpose of getting the vaccine are not exempted from a 14-day quarantine on their return.
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