As I stepped onto the sun-drenched Fort Lauderdale boardwalk last week, the air thick with humidity and conversations—many in familiar Canadian accents—I couldn’t help but notice the relaxed demeanor of tourists. Just days after Florida’s controversial vaccine mandate for international travelers was dropped, the beaches were dotted with snowbirds who’d escaped the late spring chill back home.
“We were ready to cancel everything when we heard about the vaccine requirement,” explained Marianne Leblanc, a retired teacher from Montreal who winters in Naples. “Then suddenly, it was gone. The confusion was incredible.”
That confusion hasn’t fully cleared, despite Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signing legislation on May 17th that officially scrapped the short-lived emergency rule requiring proof of vaccination for international visitors. For many Canadians planning their winter getaways or family Disney vacations, uncertainty remains about what documents they might need.
The Florida Department of Health had initially announced the mandate in early May, requiring visitors from Canada and several other countries to show proof of vaccination against diseases including measles, mumps, rubella, and COVID-19. The rule sparked immediate backlash, with tourism industry leaders warning about potential economic damage to a state where international visitors spent over $17 billion in 2023, according to Visit Florida data.
Within days, DeSantis—whose political brand has included opposition to COVID-19 vaccine mandates—claimed the emergency order was issued without his knowledge and promised to rescind it. True to his word, he signed legislation overturning the requirement while surrounded by supporters holding signs reading “Medical Freedom.”
“This whole episode reveals the ongoing tension between public health policy and politics,” Dr. Caroline Quach-Thanh, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at CHU Sainte-Justine in Montreal, told me by phone. “The science hasn’t changed—vaccines prevent outbreaks—but the politics certainly have.”
For Canadians planning Florida travel, here’s what the reversal means: You no longer need to bring proof of vaccination for entry. The standard requirements for Canadian citizens traveling to the United States remain unchanged—a valid passport and, for some travelers, completion of the ESTA form if arriving by air or sea.
However, the situation highlighted a reality many travelers overlook. Health regulations can change quickly, sometimes with little notice, in response to disease outbreaks. Florida’s brief mandate came amid rising measles cases in both Canada and the United States. The Public Health Agency of Canada reported 39 measles cases nationally by mid-May, while the CDC has recorded over 100 cases in the U.S. since January—a significant increase from recent years.
When I visited the Miami-Dade health department offices, a public health nurse who requested anonymity expressed frustration. “These decisions should be based on epidemiology, not politics,” she said, gesturing toward a wall chart showing vaccination rates. “We’re seeing preventable diseases return because of dropping immunization coverage.”
Indeed, vaccination rates in both countries have declined in recent years. Health Canada data shows childhood MMR vaccination coverage dropped from 91% in 2017 to approximately 87% by 2022. In Florida, the state health department reports kindergarten MMR vaccination rates fell from 93.8% in 2019-2020 to 91.7% in 2022-2023.
Tourism operators I spoke with expressed relief at the mandate’s reversal while acknowledging the complexity of the situation. “About 20% of our winter bookings come from Canada,” said Michael Sanchez, who manages vacation rentals in Key West. “When the requirement was announced, our phones started ringing with people asking if they should cancel. Now they’re calling to confirm they can still come.”
At Toronto Pearson International Airport, where I observed travelers bound for Orlando and Fort Lauderdale, the mood was lighter than just weeks ago. Still, some travelers carried vaccine documentation just in case.
“Better safe than sorry,” said Winnipeg resident James Chen, traveling with his family to Walt Disney World. “We’re all vaccinated anyway, and I’ve learned from COVID that rules can change overnight.”
Health experts recommend travelers remain vigilant about destination requirements and protect themselves regardless of mandates. “The smart approach is to be up-to-date on recommended vaccines anyway,” advised Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, in a recent public statement. “Travel often means exposure to different pathogens, so protection makes sense regardless of requirements.”
For those still uncertain, checking official sources remains crucial. The Government of Canada’s travel advisory page and Florida’s Department of Health website offer current information. Many Canadian travelers are also turning to travel insurance that covers trip interruption due to changing entry requirements—a lesson learned during the pandemic years.
As I watched Canadian families enjoying Florida’s beaches, theme parks, and shopping districts, the brief vaccine mandate already seemed like a distant memory for many. But it served as a reminder of how quickly the ground can shift beneath travelers’ feet—and how public health and tourism remain delicately intertwined, especially in a post-pandemic world where health security continues to shape our movement across borders.
