Vancouver mom taking 3 generations back home to Greece worried inconsistent proof of vaccination may not be adequate overseas
Michelle Larigakis can’t wait to take her parents back to their favourite restaurant on the Greek island of Skopelos.
“It means a lot to them to go back every summer and to reconnected with family,” Larigakis said, though they weren’t able to travel the past two years.
Her parents are getting older, she said, and this could be one of their final years to make the trip.
So Larigakis has booked flights to Athens next week with her father, Spyros, 91, her mother, Toula, in her 80s, and her sons Julian, 20, and Alexi, 17.
Everyone is fully vaccinated, with Greek authorities either requiring a negative COVID-19 test before arrival, or what its tourism ministry calls a “vaccination certificate issued by a certified authority.”
Everyone has some form of proof, except Toula, who Michelle said lost her written vaccination record card.
Making matters more complicated, while Michelle could download the B.C. Services Card app, go through steps to set up an account, and link it to what’s called her HealthGateway, it turns out Toula could not, because of a glitch with her birthdate in the provincial system.
So Michelle helped her apply for a replacement B.C. Services Card, which won’t arrive for a month or two.
They can’t access Toula’s electronic vaccination records without it.
“It’s not working for us and we are digitally savvy,” Michelle said.
And she’s raising questions on behalf of all international travellers, worried the handwritten B.C. vaccination cards, or the different forms of records, could confuse or might be rejected by the Greek authorities.
“It would be great if there was just a standard, official-looking document,” she said.
Anita Huberman, the CEO of the Surrey Board of Trade, agrees.
And for Huberman, it’s more about creating consistency between the provinces and territories so that if businesses ask for proof of vaccination, they’re all looking for the same thing.
On Monday, she sent a letter to provincial and federal officials asking for “a centralized, Canada-wide approach” to immunization proof.
“Ever since the pandemic began, we’ve had a patchwork of solutions, a patchwork of mixed messaging across the country,” Huberman said.
“That’s really confused employers, confused employers.”
While B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has said she doesn’t support the idea of so-called vaccine passports within the province, she has previously said she expects one for international travel.
Ottawa hasn’t provided details on when that system could potentially be ready.
An email to Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada, which is overseeing the development and rollout vaccine passports, was acknowledged, but wasn’t responded to by deadline.
In Victoria, the Ministry of Health told CTV News in a statement it was “working to improve the way that people can easily obtain their COVID immunization records and will have more information on what this will look like available in the coming days.”
In the meantime, the ministry indicated those who had lost their immunization records or weren’t able to access the HealthGateway could request copies by:
- Reaching out to their local health unit if they were immunized at a mass immunization clinic, through their local health unit, or through mobile clinics in their health region.
- Reaching out to their pharmacist if they were immunized at their local pharmacy.
- Reaching out to their community health nurse if they were immunized in a First Nations community.
The ministry also reiterated it’s working with the federal government to ensure “people will be able to travel internationally and their privacy will be protected,” a statement read.
With Michelle’s permission, CTV News reached out to Vancouver Coastal Health Monday morning to ask about obtaining a copy of Toula’s proof of vaccination.
Whether asking questions made any difference, by Monday afternoon, Michelle had copies of both her parents’ records.
“I think it looks official enough,” she said, showing CTV documents that listed names, birthdates, health numbers, plus vaccination dates, products, and lots numbers.
The first thing she plans to do when they arrive in Skopelos?
“Pour my dad a glass of ouzo,” she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Police arrest 3 in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Five areas Canada's foreign interference commissioner says needs more investigation
Commissioner Marie-Josee Hogue released her interim report examining foreign election interference on Friday. Here are five elements of the issue that Hogue says she needs to further probe before she can make conclusions or recommendations.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.
Why your airfare may be getting more expensive
Skyrocketing airfare prices are linked to heightened competition and rising food and fuel, according to the CAA.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
New weight-loss drug Wegovy not a 'magic bullet,' doctor warns
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.
Funeral today for broadcasting legend and voice of 'Hockey Night in Canada' Bob Cole
A funeral is being held today for hockey broadcasting legend Bob Cole in his hometown of St. John's, N.L.
Foreign meddling 'did not affect' overall federal election results: inquiry report
Foreign interference by China did not affect the overall results of the 2019 and 2021 general elections won by Justin Trudeau's Liberals, a federal commission of inquiry has found.