23/07/2021
TORONTO — Fully vaccinated Canadians who’ve had mixed doses of COVID-19 vaccines may be out of luck when trying to book with certain cruise lines.
Carnival, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess have all updated their health and safety protocols to deny passengers who’ve mixed and matched certain vaccine doses.
In June, Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) changed its guidelines to allow for mixing and matching COVID-19 vaccines, saying that a first dose of the AstraZeneca-Oxford/COVIDSHIELD vaccine can be followed up with a second AstraZeneca shot or a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna shot. The committee also advises that Pfizer and Moderna, both mRNA vaccines, can be interchangeable for first and second doses.
According to Health Canada, approximately 1.3 million Canadians received a mixed-dose finish to their vaccination schedule in June.
Here are the latest updates from cruise lines:
CELEBRITY
Will I be considered fully vaccinated if my first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine is from one manufacturer and the second dose is from another?
Following CDC guidelines, Celebrity will consider a guest ‘fully vaccinated’ with proof of vaccination that can include mixed doses of the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines only. No other mixed vaccine doses will qualify a guest as ‘fully vaccinated”. Some ports of call may not accept mixed vaccine doses and therefore could restrict those guests from going ashore.
CARNIVAL
According to Carnival’s COVID-19 guest protocols page on its website, for cruises departing the United States, the CDC requires both vaccines in a 2-dose series to be of the same type. It also accepts mixing mRNA vaccines only (Pfizer and Moderna). No other vaccine combination will meet the criteria to be considered fully vaccinated.
“So, for example, Canadian or other international guests who received a combination of AstraZeneca and Pfizer are considered unvaccinated by the CDC,” said Carnival.
HOLLAND AMERICA LINE
According to Holland America, guests who have received one single dose of a vector vaccine like AstraZeneca and one single dose of an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna) will not be considered fully vaccinated.
Guests who’ve received two single doses of mixed vaccines that are the same type (ie. both mRNA) will, however, be considered fully vaccination and will be permitted to sail, so long as the final dose is received at least 14 days prior to the beginning of the cruise.
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE
NCL cited vaccine guidelines from the FDA and the World Health Organization, both of which authorized single brand vaccination protocol for ships embarking or disembarking at U.S. ports. These include J&J Janssen, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca/Oxford. Mixed vaccination protocol will not be accepted (Pfizer + Moderna or AstraZeneca + Pfizer, for example).
All other vessels departing from a non-U.S. port will accept any U.S. FDA, European Medicines Agency (EMA) or WHO authorized single brand vaccination protocol, or a mixed vaccination protocol of only AstraZeneca-SK Bio, Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna combinations.
Vaccines received via clinical trials will not be accepted.
PRINCESS
According to Princess, guests who have received one single dose of a vector vaccine (ie. AstraZeneca) and one single dose of an mRNA vaccine (ie. Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna) will not be considered fully vaccinated.
Guests who have received two single doses of mixed vaccines that are the same type (ie. mRNA) will be considered fully vaccinated and will be permitted to sail, so long as the final dose is received at least 14 days prior to the beginning of the cruise.
