Are Walmart locations in Canada requiring shoppers to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination and a government-issued ID to shop in stores, effective November 1, 2021? No, that's not true: a Walmart Canada spokesperson confirmed that the claim is false.
The claim appeared in a Facebook post (archived here) published on September 13, 2021. It used a Walmart Canada Corporation logo atop a fake document that read:
Proof Of Vaccination Required
EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 1ST, 2021 SHOPPERS WILL NEED TO PROVIDE PROOF OF VACCINATION AND GOVERNMENT ISSUED ID IN ORDER TO ENTER ANY WALMART IN CANADA.
WE WILL STILL BE HAPPY TO OFFER CURBSIDE PICK UP TO THOSE UNVACCINATED.
THANK YOU
WALMART OF CANADA
This is what the post looked like on Facebook on September 14, 2021:
(Source: Facebook screenshot taken on Tue Sep 14 16:42:32 2021 UTC)
In an email to Lead Stories on September 14, 2021, Felicia Fefer, manager of corporate affairs for Walmart Canada, said:
This information is not true. Customers do not have to show proof of vaccination to shop at our stores. We continue to work with governments across the country and are following required restrictions.
Although Walmart locations in the U.S. are requiring all associates in the home office in Bentonville, Arkansas, and all market, regional and divisional associates who work in multiple facilities to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by October 4, 2021, it does not appear that other Walmart locations are requiring associates to be vaccinated.
