Canada reveals standardized vaccine passport, plans for kids’ vaccinations

A new standardized COVID-19 vaccine passport soon will be available for Saskatchewan residents looking to travel.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday the new proof of vaccination is being launched for people in Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Quebec and Yukon, and will be available in the other provinces soon.

It will show a person’s name, date of birth and vaccination history, including what brand of vaccine was administered and when the shots were given.

“Canadians have done their part by getting vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect themselves, their families, and their communities,” Trudeau said in a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.

“As new vaccine requirements roll out for travellers, we are working to ensure that those who travel have access to a reliable, secure way to demonstrate their COVID-19 vaccinations, both at home and abroad. We will continue to work with provincial, territorial, and Indigenous partners so this standardized proof is available across Canada.”

The federal government also is talking with other countries to get the passport recognized abroad.

The proof of vaccination has been issued by provinces and territories to people who are vaccinated against COVID-19. The standardized passport will work in conjunction with the new traveller vaccination requirements that are to come into effect on Oct. 30.

Starting that day, anyone flying out of Canadian airports or travelling by train in the country has to be fully vaccinated.

“You can download it into your phone, you can print it out, you can ask for a copy by mail if you don’t have those capacities, but you are now able to show proofs of vaccination immediately in all those provinces, and all other provinces have agreed and are working hard to come online,” Trudeau told reporters Thursday.

The federal government also announced it will be receiving 2.9 million doses of Pfizer’s COVID vaccine for children shortly after it gets approved by Health Canada. The company asked for that approval earlier this week.

“We will have the supply necessary to support every kid across the country from (age) five to 11 with vaccinations as soon as possible after Health Canada approved it,” Trudeau told reporters.

The prime minister also announced the country has regained 100 per cent of the jobs that were lost when the pandemic hit.

As well, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says more direct subsidies to still-hurting sectors will be offered when broader pandemic aid programs like the Canada Recovery Benefit and Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy end Saturday.