To take unvaccinated kids to Canada?

[firstchopanonion]

Sorry, a bit of a traffic post but trying to catch the Canadian parents on here!

We are due to visit elderly relatives in Ontario this summer but I've checked the entry requirements for unvaccinated kids and it a) doesn't look like we're allowed to stay with our relatives and b) looks like there are a lot of restrictions on what they can do while we're there.

We can avoid public transport, we can avoid busy places (relatives live very rurally and we our plans are hiking/swimming/boating anyway), we can rent a cottage and not stay with them, but is the trip going to be such a headache we should postpone? This would be the third summer in the row of having to do so, and relatives are very eager for us to come (as are we very eager to go!)

What province/territory?

Sorry. Just saw Ontario

I think all children over the age of 5 have to be vaccinated to get into Canada.
I fly to Toronto tomorrow to visit family for the first time in 3 years [ and finally to meet my grandchild ] . This is from Air Canada www.aircanada.com/uk/en/aco/home/book/travel-news-and-updates/2020/covid-19.html?acid=EXT:MAPP#/entryRequirements?lang=en-CA&sherpaType=trip&segmentType1=OUTBOUND&originAirport1=LHR&destinationAirport1=YYZ&departureDate1=2022-02-

Ah I found this which suggests the DC can accompany me and DH as both fully vaxxed travellers, but with a whole heap of restrictions travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/covid-vaccinated-travellers-entering-canada#children

If your relatives are clinically vulnerable then this is the likely major issue.

Whatever the rules are stick to them, not meaning this in a facetious way but Canada’s borders are incredibly strict right now due to COVD. We visited last month and saw people turned away at the border due to not meeting the regulations. It’s not like coming back to England (where it’s all pretty lax at the border TBH). We also had the police come to check we were staying where we said we were staying.

@firstchopanonion could you not just get the kids vaccinated before summer? You haven't mentioned how old they are, but if they're old enough there's still time

Canada's entry rules are very strict at the moment, but whether that will still be the case by the summer is anyone's guess. We're also booked to go see family - really hoping we don't have to cancel for a third time. That said, when I was there in the autumn it was no problem for me on my own.

The really irritating thing is that we haven't been vaccinating 5-12 year olds in the UK and there's no way to do it privately. In Ontario, my partner's niece was double vaxxed by December. DS (15) hasn't even had his second jab yet, as he caught Covid before he was eligible and now has to wait 12 weeks.

I would get them vaccinated if I could! But the oldest is 8 and, as adarkwhisper says, there’s no way to do it privately here in the UK.

My relatives aren’t clinically vulnerable for any reason other than their ages, but the rules are that unvaccinated kids can’t stay with anyone over 65. Which honestly does seem a bit bonkers to me, but there we go.

@Hannah1887 Gosh that’s a bit full on re the police. We won’t break the rules… we can technically visit and abide by the rules as long as we change our plans about staying with relatives, but I’m just not sure if it will be worth it.

@firstchopanonion sorry, I didn't realise the rules were different there. Here in Germany kids age 5 and over can get the vaccine, I assumed it was the same in the UK. How annoying!!

Have you got the ArriveCan app on your phone? It links to explanatory documents on gov.ca web. Then you know what jabs/COVID passports you need. Then when you've booked the flights you download each passenger details (COVID passports). Then within 72 hrs of flight link clean (approved provider) PCR for each passenger.

Restrictions in Canada are going to relax quite a lot over the next few months. Can you wait until later in March or even early April to book? I think that will give you a much better idea of what summer will be like.

Also, you'll need to have/prove an isolation address, even if you arrive with negative PCRs they can randomly select you at airport to quarantine anyway. They can demand that's at an approved hotel or guest accommodation.

Apparently you can vax kids 5-11 in the calais vaccine clinic on a Wednesday. You need to book.

No worries Kaw10 The UK seems to be way behind on vaccinating kids.

I don’t have the app, thanks that sounds helpful. We’ve already booked flights but took advantage of a deal before Dec 31st whereby we can change the dates up to 24 hours before departure, so we can push them out a year if needs be.

The filthy vermin comments are completely unhelpful. I love Canada, I want to travel to Canada, I want my kids to experience the beautiful Canadian countryside and hospitality that I have enjoyed so many times in my own life. My relatives and friends there didn’t make up the rules.

I think things will change by summer barring another variant that kicks it all up again. I would just wait a little. Travel restrictions are federal - not provincial. Provincial restrictions in Ontario will be relaxing over the next 4-6 weeks. No word yet on federal. If you can wait another month to book, you might have a better picture of summer.

The filthy vermin comments are completely unhelpful. I love Canada, I want to travel to Canada, I want my kids to experience the beautiful Canadian countryside and hospitality that I have enjoyed so many times in my own life. My relatives and friends there didn’t make up the rules.
I'm sure the country and it's people are lovely, it's just the government right now is scary. I'd hold off until it calms down if possible.

That’s good to know that restrictions are likely to ease off before summer… I am desperately hoping we can make this trip but possibilities of random quarantines are not alluring!

I have a friend who visited Canada over xmas with young, unvaccinated DC.
As you say, the rules are to not be in contact with elderly people (eg relatives) - however, and this depends on everyone's risk acceptance, the elderly Canadian relatives (grandparents of the British children) were given the choice to signa a waiver of some sort, accepting the risk of having unvaccinated children stay with them. I have no idea the terms of the waiver.
However you'd still be restricted on all the other fronts, for the first 2 weeks.

PS this was Ontario.

Oh that’s very interesting re the waiver. I know my relatives would be glad to do the same… they are the closest thing my DC have to grandparents on my side and they’re longing to see them.