Canada reportedly set to lift vaccine requirements for people entering country, a move that would impact unvaccinated professional athletes

TORONTO — Canada is likely to drop vaccination requirements for people entering the country through the end of September, a move that will impact unvaccinated professional athletes traveling there for games, according to multiple reports Tuesday, according to multiple reports Tuesday.

To enter the country, the Canadian government currently requires a person to have received a second dose of COVID-19 vaccine – or a dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine – at least 14 days prior to entry. But the government is likely to drop the requirement pending final approval from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

In baseball, unvaccinated players were blacklisted during their teams’ games in Canada. According to a March agreement between Major League Baseball and the players’ association, they will not be paid and will not receive major league service. Canada’s lifting of its restrictions would allow now-unvaccinated major leagues to play in the Toronto playoffs should the Blue Jays make it through the postseason.

In the NBA, teams were notified via memo last month that players still need to either receive a primary course of a COVID-19 vaccine or obtain medical clearance to get one in order to play in Canada. But that would no longer be necessary after the restrictions were lifted.

The vast majority of NHL players were vaccinated last season, with one notable exception being Todd Bertuzzi of the Detroit Red Wings.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.