Vaccine Passport Program Takes Effect Across Ontario

Wednesday, 22 September 2021 at 06:23

Starting today, you'll have to show some ID and proof of COVID-19 vaccination if you want to access higher risk indoor settings. We spoke with local Medical Officer of Health Dr. Joyce Lock about the program.

ONTARIO - Ontario has officially introduced it's vaccine passport program.

This means you now have to show some ID and proof of COVID-19 vaccination if you want to access the following indoor public settings.

- Restaurants and bars (excluding outdoor patios, as well as delivery and takeout);
- Nightclubs (including outdoor areas of the establishment);
- Meeting and event spaces, such as banquet halls and conference/convention centres;
- Facilities used for sports and fitness activities and personal fitness training, such as gyms, fitness and recreational facilities with the exception of youth recreational sport;
- Sporting events;
- Casinos, bingo halls and gaming establishments;
- Concerts, music festivals, theatres and cinemas;
- Strip clubs, bathhouses and sex clubs;
- Racing venues (e.g., horse racing).

The province says these areas are considered to be higher risk because face coverings can't be worn at all times.

Dr. Joyce Lock, the local Medical Officer of Health for Southwestern Public Health, explains what classifies as proof of vaccination.

"At the moment, the proof of being fully vaccinated is a copy of the receipt that you received from the Ministry of Health when you got your vaccine."

Your proof of vaccination must prove that it's been two weeks since your second dose. If you've lost your vaccination receipt you can download it online here. You can print a copy of your receipt to carry with you or you can choose to save it to your smartphone. If you can't get the vaccine due to a medical reason, you can provide a doctors note instead.

The province is planning to introduce a vaccine passport smartphone app next month and it will feature a QR code. Premier Doug Ford will be holding a press conference at 11:30 a.m. this morning alongside Minister of Health Christine Elliott and Solicitor General Sylvia Jones.

While speaking with Dr. Lock, we asked her about her thoughts on the future of the vaccine passport program.

"I think a year from now we'll know more about the coverage of vaccines, how they help us prevent the spread of infection and what's going on in these indoor spaces once we're all vaccinated and at that point in time the vaccine passports will be re-assessed."

You can list to our full interview with Dr. Lock below.