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
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.