Those with mixed vaccines facing big travel headaches

It was supposed to be a shared Mediterranean and Caribbean cruise in October. But one couple had to back out because they are vaccinated with a mix of Astrazeneca and Pfizer.

Rick Mcintosh, his wife and another couple from Ottawa were looking forward to a 14-day cruise — together — with Celebrity Cruises from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“Fortunately, I have two Pfizer shots. We were trying to book a trip with our friends who unfortunately have one Astrazeneca and one Pfizer,” Mcintosh said. “They can't travel in October because you're no longer considered vaccinated in the U.S. with the mixed vaccine.”

Many Canadians are in the same frustrating spot.

The cruise line the Mcintoshes booked with is among many spelling out vaccination rules on their websites. Celebrity says “Following CDC guidelines, Celebrity will consider a guest `fully vaccinated' with proof of vaccination that can include mixed doses of the Pfizer and Moderna MRNA vaccines only.

“No other mixed vaccine doses will qualify a guest as `fully vaccinated.' Some ports of call may not accept mixed vaccine doses and therefore could restrict those guests from going ashore.”

Another operator, Princess Cruises, says: “Guests who have received two single doses of mixed vaccines that are the same type (e.g., MRNA) will be considered fully vaccinated and will be permitted to sail…”

The Association of Canadian Travel Agencies (ACTA) says members are proactively reaching out to some customers to prevent a mixed vaccination problem.

“It's unfortunately a uniquely Canadian thing,” Richard Vanderlubbe of ACTA said.

“I think it is now incumbent on the government to really advocate bilaterally with any country that's imposing these restrictions.”

Infectious disease experts say they expect the vaccine mix will eventually have to be accepted.

Barbados recently changed its policy, which did not recognize the practice.

“We are in a bit of a grey area now where many places are making it up as they go along and adjusting policy as they go along,” said Dr. Isaac Bogoch of the University Health Network. “When the dust settles, I think most will go along with WHO approved vaccines, and they will also approve mixing and matching.”

“This has affected millions of Canadians,” said Dr. Anna Banerji of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto. “And I think that if these rules stay in place, you're going to have a lot of really, really angry people.”

Mcintosh already knows of at least one angry couple.

“Canadians who don't do their homework about what's required,” he said, “may end up there and not be allowed on the boat.”