First doses of COVID-19 vaccine increased 29 per cent in Ontario since vaccine mandate announcement
Published September 14, 2021 at 2:00 pm
In the week since the Province announced Ontarians will be required to provide proof they have been vaccinated against COVID-19 before they can enter certain businesses, including restaurants, gyms, sporting events, night clubs, and strip clubs, thousands have booked appointments, many of which were for first doses.
Between September 1 and 8, the seven-day average for first doses increased by more than 29 per cent. During that time, 90,000 first doses and 102,000 second doses were administered to Ontarians between the ages 18 and 59
Additionally, according to Christine Elliott, Minister of Health, 550 vaccination clinics are either already underway or planned for the near future at elementary schools, high schools, and colleges and universities across Ontario.
Starting September 22, Ontarians will be required to provide their vaccination receipt, in either printed or digital format, along with a piece of government-issued ID in order to enter the aforementioned businesses.
One month later, on October 22, the Province is on track to launch an app that will allow these businesses to scan a QR code that provides either a citizen’s proof of vaccination, or a medical reason for why they cannot be vaccinated.
“Businesses need a smart, quick and safe solution to verify vaccination,” Kaleed Rasheed, Associate Minister of Digital Government, said in a news release. “The made-in-Ontario enhanced vaccine certificate for the public and the verification app for businesses are tools to confirm that an individual has been vaccinated while protecting Ontarians’ health data.”
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The app will be available through the App Store and Google Play, and it will be free to download.
“Getting fully vaccinated is the most important step you can take to protect yourself and others,” Kieran Moore, Chief Medical Officer of Health, said in the same release.
“To provide the best protection to some of our more vulnerable populations, we are offering a third dose to additional groups of immunocompromised people who are more likely to have had a less than adequate immune response to the initial two dose COVID-19 vaccine series. I continue to strongly encourage anyone eligible who hasn’t already come forward to get their COVID-19 shot, to do so today to do their part to help keep themselves, their loved ones and our communities safe,” he continued.
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