The new federal immunization card – called the Pan-Canadian Proof of Vaccination Card (PVC) – is now available for fully vaccinated Manitobans for domestic or international travel. Individuals who currently have a digital Manitoba immunization card or are applying for one, can visit immunizationcard.manitoba.ca or call 1-844-MAN-VACC (1-844-626-8222) to request their PVC, in digital or hard copy.
“We applaud the leadership of the federal, provincial and territorial governments in providing a standardized credential that can be used to facilitate travel and other activities across the country,” said Mark Agnew of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. “Vaccine credentials are a critical building block in our economic recovery while keeping Canadians safe.”
Here are some details about the PVC:
- The PVC is intended to be used for travel within Canada, and upon entry into Canada when returning from abroad. This document will be required at airports throughout Canada, VIA Rail and Rocky Mountaineer trains, and at any Canadian border crossing (CBSA).
- The new standard includes the holder’s name and vaccine information, such as the type of vaccine, lot number, date of vaccination and the number of doses. It uses a QR code known as a Smart Health Card, which is not an actual health card but a format of coding that can already be scanned by border guards in some countries, as well as iPhone users with the latest Apple Health app.
- It’s important to note that just because a Canadian has the new vaccine passport doesn’t mean they’ll meet the requirements to enter a foreign country. Travellers must check international advisories to ensure the vaccines they received meet vaccination criteria to enter.
It is strongly recommended that individuals continue to use Manitoba’s immunization card while in the province.
The PVC includes more information, such as date of birth, date of immunization and the brand of vaccine received. Manitoba’s immunization card doesn’t contain any personal health information, which better protects privacy. In addition, Manitoba’s verifier app will continue to read the provincial and has been upgraded to read the national QR codes. This means businesses and other venues will not have to change the way they check immunization status as the federal card becomes more widely used.
Unfortunately, the full implementation of the national vaccine passport doesn’t line up with incoming vaccine mandates for air and train travellers. Starting Oct. 30, anyone over the age of 12 who wishes to get on a plane or train in Canada, will need to prove they are fully inoculated with a Health Canada-approved vaccine. There will be a short transition period until Nov. 30 to allow the unvaccinated to show a negative molecular COVID-19 test instead.
For more information on proof of vaccination cards, please visit: https://manitoba.ca/covid19/vaccine/immunizationrecord/index.html.
