President’s Message Karen Huestis CSA President Last winter, we estimated that approximately 70% of our members stayed in Canada and, for many of you, it was the first winter at home in decades. With the majority of snowbirds now fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and able to drive their vehicles to their winter homes for the first time in nearly 20 months, the lines to enter the United States on November 8 were some of the longest ever seen. For those of you still in Canada planning to fly to your winter homes as of November 30, you will not be able to fly without a federal government-issued vaccine passport with a QR code. This means that a negative COVID-19 test will no longer be accepted as an alternative to full vaccination. The new rule will not apply in cases where a person has been issued a valid medical exemption. As of November 30, the new document will be available for download to smartphones or printable as a hard copy in all provinces and territories. Along with the QR code, which will include your COVID-19 vaccination history, the document will also include the official logo of the province or territory in which you reside and the official logo of the Government of Canada. As the federal government advises, the vaccine passport does not guarantee your entry into another country. Before travelling, please check the entry requirements for the country to which you are travelling and any other country through which youmay have to transit on your way to your final destination. Youmay also contact the CSA for clarification if you’re unsure of the particular rules and regulations − we’re here to help. On November 12, Health Canada authorized Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for use as a booster shot. Earlier in November, they approved Pfizer’s MRNA vaccine for use as a booster. These are both an extra dose of the vaccine given after completion of the primary vaccine series and are designed to help people maintain their protection against COVID-19. Both booster shots are authorized in Canada for adults 18 years of age and older and are to be given at least six months after the second dose, in most cases. Different provinces are making these booster shots available to residents at different times and are staggering thembased on age and risk level. Many provinces have alreadymade these available to long-term care home residents and people who are immunocompromised. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) is officially recommending boosters for other high-risk groups, including adults 70 years of age and older. NACI has also recommended booster shots for all those who received two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, as the MRNA vaccines appear to offer a somewhat higher level of protection. It seems likely that most of us will be urged to receive a booster shot at some point in 2022, regardless of age. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have now authorized the use of COVID-19 booster shots for adults 18 years of age and older. These changes pertain to the MRNA vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna. People who received these vaccines can now get a booster shot six months or more after having received their second dose. People who received the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine are also eligible to receive a booster shot two months after their original dose. The CDC also recommends that people aged 50 and older should get the booster, while people ages 18-50 may choose to do so based on how they view their individual risk. In Florida and Arizona, booster shots are readily available at many drug stores and grocery store pharmacies. Although the eligibility criteria do not specifically mention Canadians, Canadian snowbirds had few problems receiving their initial vaccinations throughout the United States and we don’t anticipate that they will experience many problems now. If you have any concerns, please contact a health professional first but, if you’re on your way south and are looking for a booster shot, it should be readily available. It’s shaping up to be a busy winter of snowbird travel. Vaccinations, masks where appropriate, outdoor gatherings, washing your hands…all of the things that we’ve all been doing for so long in Canada are all still recommended as we head off to our winter destinations. Happy and safe travels. 10 | www.snowbirds.org
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