On August 20, the Department of Homeland Security announced that the U.S. is extending by 30 days its restrictions on non-essential travel at land and ferry crossings with Canada and Mexico through September 21. In response, the U.S. Travel Association both reproached DHS for its decision and reminded constituents of the importance of vaccinations.
“Travel restrictions are no longer protecting us from the virus—vaccines are,” wrote Tori Emerson Barnes, USTA executive vice president of public affairs and policy. “Every day that our land borders remain closed delays America’s economic and jobs recovery, causing greater damage to the millions of people whose livelihoods depend on travel and tourism.”
Vaccinations, said Roger Dow, USTA president and CEO, in a July 28 statement, are “the fastest path to normalcy for all.”
With the Pfizer vaccine now fully approved by the FDA—it only had emergency-use authorization before August 23—vaccinations could play a larger role in controlling the spread of the virus, given that people might have more confidence in vaccine safety and then more communities and organizations might feel emboldened to require vaccinations. For one, the Pentagon will now mandate vaccines for active-duty service members.
Read more of this article, “Vaccinations Seen as Key Tool for Rebuilding Convention Industry,” on MeetingsNet.