Ontarians will need to be fully vaccinated soon if they want to access certain places in the province.
It was officially announced by Premier Doug Ford Wednesday, after he and Health Minister Christine Elliot both stressed until recently that a vaccine passport would not be coming to the province.
British Columbia, Manitoba, and Quebec have already all confirmed they would be implementing a vaccine passport.
“As the world continues its fight against the Delta variant, our government will never waver in our commitment to do what’s necessary to keep people safe, protect our hospitals and minimize disruptions to businesses,” said Premier Ford. “Based on the latest evidence and best advice, COVID-19 vaccine certificates give us the best chance to slow the spread of this virus while helping us to avoid further lockdowns. If you haven’t received your first or second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, please do so today.”
The passport will not apply to children under the age of 12, or people with medical exemptions.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore says proof of vaccination is an important way to help Ontario out of the pandemic.
“We are already seeing a rise in the number of cases of COVID-19 as we head into the fall,” said Moore. “As we enter the last mile push to increase vaccination rates, the introduction of a vaccine certificate is an important step to give people the tools to limit further spread of the virus so that we can ensure the safety of all Ontarians while keeping the province open and operational.”
Moore stressed that the majority of recent COVID cases are in unvaccinated people.
Ontarians currently have access to a paper or PDF receipt that includes the information proving they are fully vaccinated.
The province is also introducing a digital vaccine receipt that features a QR code and can be kept on a phone and easily used to show that you’ve been vaccinated if you need to.
Beginning Sept. 22, proof of vaccination along with photo ID will be needed to access:
- 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 Ontario government is continuing its last mile strategy to reach individuals who have not received their first or second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
