Ontario woman says she'll pay for third vaccine dose so she'll be allowed on cruise ship
Canadians who are planning holidays are faced with difficult decisions if they have mixed vaccines, especially if it's the AstraZeneca shot.
"I'm frustrated and I don't know what to do," Janetville, Ont. woman Brenda Moore told CTV News Toronto.
Moore and her husband Jeff have been on cruises before and wanted to invite their extended family, a group of eleven, on a cruise out of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
They booked a trip for January 2022 and paid for the flight, the hotel and the cruise, only to find out the Princess Cruise Line doesn't recognize the mixing of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Out of the group of eleven, only Moore has the AstraZeneca vaccine and she has been told she will not be allowed on the ship.
"I had my travel agent reach out to the cruise ship and they basically don't care," said Moore.
Moore had the Pfizer vaccine as her second dose and would like another Pfizer shot, which would allow her to travel. It's something she said she would gladly pay for.
"I'll take one. I'll take a booster. They should be offering that for anyone who needs a vaccine to travel," said Moore.
In March of 2021, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said "the bottom line for Canadians is the right vaccine for you to take is the very first vaccine that you are offered."
Martin Firestone, the president of Travel Secure Inc. said many of his clients feel misled that they were told to take the first shot available.
"They are concerned that our government said what ever comes first is the one you go for, and now it appears that may not be the correct answer. They may not be able to get away at least not on a cruise ship," said Firestone.
The province of British Columbia has already stated it will not offer a third shot for those who want it for travel, but Quebec has said that it will offer a booster to anyone who needs it for travel purposes.
"We are lacking consistency right now between all the province where Quebecers says you can have a third shot so you have that happening there and nothing like that in Ontario and B.C.," Firestone said.
The situation could change but Moore says for now she doesn't know what to do.
"I don't know whether to be excited about going on the trip, or not. Right now it’s really stressful," said Moore.
In an email to CTV News Toronto, Princess Cruises confirmed that guests who received two doses of AstraZeneca 14 days before their departure date are considered to be fully vaccinated.
While many Canadians are eager to take a trip, it's important to know Canada is still advising against unessential travel outside of the country.
Rules regarding mixed vaccines remain subject to change in the weeks and months ahead.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Stamp prices rise for the third time in five years amid financial woes for Canada Post
Canada Post is increasing stamp prices for the third time since 2019, a move the Crown corporation says is a "reality" of its sales-based revenue structure.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, claims he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women in Winnipeg, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Trudeau Liberals to unveil new bill Monday aimed at countering foreign interference
Democratic Institutions Minister Dominic LeBlanc will be tabling legislation on Monday aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada. Federal officials have scheduled a technical briefing on the incoming bill for Monday afternoon.
WATCH Avian flu: Risk to humans grows as outbreaks spread, warns expert
H5N1 or avian flu is decimating wildlife around the world and is now spreading among cattle in the United States, sparking concerns about 'pandemic potential' for humans. Now a health expert is urging Canada to scale up surveillance north of the border.
Human remains were found at a former Hitler base, but decay prevents determining the cause of death
Polish prosecutors have discontinued an investigation into human skeletons found at a site where German dictator Adolf Hitler and other Nazi leaders spent time during the Second World War because the advanced state of decay made it impossible to determine the cause of death, a spokesman said Monday.
Italy's white-collar mafia is making a business killing
Italy's mafia rarely dirties its hands with blood these days. Extortion rackets have gone out of fashion and murders are largely frowned upon by the godfathers.
Ontario MPP asked again to leave Ontario legislature over keffiyeh, Speaker loosens ban
An Ontario MPP was asked again to leave the Ontario legislature on Monday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that was banned by the Speaker last month due to its political symbolism.
The story of how a B.C. man found his birth mother
After his adopted parents died, Dave Rogers set out to learn more about his birth mother. DNA results and a little help from friendly strangers would put him on a path to a small town in England.
Trump fined US$1,000 for gag order violation in hush money case as judge warns of possible jail time
The judge presiding over Donald Trump's hush money trial fined him US$1,000 on Monday for violating his gag order once again and sternly warned the former president that additional violations could result in jail time.