U.S. to require vaccines for all foreign border crossers in January

The Biden administration on Tuesday announced that all “essential, non-resident travelers crossing the US land borders, such as truck drivers, government and emergency response officials” are required to be fully vaccinated by January 22.

Essential travelers entering by ferry will also be required to be fully vaccinated by the same date.

A senior administration official, who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity, said the requirement, which the White House previewed in October, brings the rules for essential travelers in line with those that took effect earlier this month for leisure travelers when the US reopened its borders to fully vaccinated individuals.

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The rules concern only non-US nationals. American citizens and permanent residents may still enter the US regardless of their vaccination status.