CDC to accept mixed-dose COVID-19 vaccines from international travelers

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CDC to accept mixed-dose COVID-19 vaccines from international travelers

Travelers wearing protective face masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease COVID - 19 reclaim their luggage at the airport in Denver, Colorado, on November 24, 2020. REUTERS Kevin Mohatt File Photo Co.

WASHINGTON, Oct 15 Reuters : The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC said late on Friday that it would accept mixed-dose coronavirus vaccines from international travelers, a boost to travelers from Canada and other countries.

The CDC said last week that it would accept any vaccine authorized by U.S. regulators or the World Health Organization for use. While CDC has not recommended mixing the types of vaccine in a primary series, we recognize that this is becoming common in other countries and should be accept for the interpretation of vaccine records, said a CDC spokeswoman.

The White House announced Friday that New vaccination requirements for foreign nationals traveling to the United States will begin Nov. 8 for visitors crossing at international borders as well as domestic air travelers.

Representative Brian Higgins, a New York Democrat representing a district along the Canadian border, asked the CDC on Friday if it would accept mixed vaccine doses noting nearly four million Canadians that were equivalent to 10% of their fully vaccinated population, had received mixed doses of the available mRNA COVID-19 vaccines this includes the AstraZeneca vaccine. The CDC said that the vaccines authorized for use by Food and Drug Administration FDA, as well as those approved by WHO, will be accepted for entry into the United States, including the AstraZeneca AZN.L vaccine.

The CDC said that individuals who have any combination of two doses of an FDA approved authorized or WHO emergency use listed COVID-19 two-dose series are considered fully vaccinated. The CDC plans to answer other questions and release a contact tracing order for International Air Visitors by Oct. 25.