Travellers flying out of Pearson Airport in Mississauga can use new QR codes to board flights

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Published October 21, 2021 at 11:42 am

Possible measles exposure at Pearson Airport in Mississauga, Ontario and 3 other locations

Travellers who’ll soon have to prove they’re fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before boarding flights at Pearson Airport in Mississauga—and airports across Canada—can use standardized, federally approved documentation to show they’ve had their shots, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced late this morning. 

In Mississauga and across Ontario, that documentation will include the vaccine certificate QR code and verification app unveiled earlier this week.

“As Canadians start to travel again, domestically and particularly internationally, they’ll now have a national standard for proof of vaccination certificates,” Trudeau told reporters at a press conference in Ottawa, noting the required documents can be downloaded to phones, printed out or requested to be sent by mail. 

Trudeau added a single proof of vaccination document/card will be available in the coming weeks. 

As of Oct. 30, all travellers aged 12 and older must show proof of vaccination or they’ll risk being turned away from boarding flights at Pearson and other airports.  

The same goes for those looking to board VIA Rail and Rocky Mountaineer trains as well as people looking to travel on non-essential marine vessels such as cruise ships, Ottawa announced last week. 

However, there will reportedly be a brief transition phase to allow travellers to show a negative COVID-19 molecular test result instead of proof of vaccination, until Nov. 30.  

Trudeau also promised today that once Pfizer’s vaccine for children aged five to 11 has received approval from Health Canada, which is expected soon, there will be enough doses available immediately for all Canadian children in that age range. 

“It’s very good news for all parents and children throughout the country…we want our children to have the additional protection that vaccination provides,” the prime minister said, adding Health Canada will not give approval until it’s certain the vaccine is completely safe and effective. 

The new travel restrictions are part of the Trudeau government’s mandatory vaccine policy unveiled recently by the prime minister. The mandate also requires public servants to either get their shots by month’s end or be forced into an unpaid leave of absence. 

To qualify as a “fully vaccinated traveller,” a person must have received a full series of a Health Canada-approved COVID-19 vaccine, or a combination of approved shots, with the last dose having been received at least 14 days prior to the day of travel.  

The federal proof of vaccination plan comes as public health authorities are urging those not yet vaccinated to get a shot to curb a deadly resurgence of the virus in some provinces.   

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