Travellers, federal public servants must show proof of vaccination by end of October

Canadians looking to travel by air or rail must have proof they’re fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of October or they won’t be going anywhere.

The federal government unveiled its mandatory vaccine policy Wednesday. In addition to travellers, all public servants and air travel and railway workers must have received their shots by the end of the month.

Anyone who wants to travel by plane or train must have received a second dose of an approved COVID vaccine at least 14 days before their trip.

There will be a short transition period to instead let people who haven’t been vaccinated show a negative molecular COVID test, but that period is to end Nov. 30.

The federal government also will require employers at airport businesses as well as airline and rail companies to come up with their own mandatory vaccine policies by the end of October.

All public servants must show they are fully vaccinated against COVID by Oct. 29, or they’ll be put on unpaid administrative leave.

— With files from The Canadian Press