Ontario plans to issue proof of COVID-19 vaccination cards, health minister confirms

For more on today’s top stories and the spread of the novel coronavirus across the country, please refer to our live updates below throughout the day, as well as our COVID-19 news hub.

Ontario’s Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, Christine Elliott, revealed Tuesday that the province will issue a proof of vaccination card to people who receive the COVID-19 immunization.

“That’s going to be really important for people to have for travel purposes, perhaps for work purposes, for going to theatre or cinemas, or any other places where people will be in close physical contact when we get through the worst of the pandemic,” Elliott told reporters. “Yes, that will be essential for people to have that.”

This comes as provincial officials, including Elliott and Ontario Premier Doug Ford, toured a research facility at University Health Network in Toronto to look at the equipment needed to store the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

The health minister indicated that there are 21 hospitals in the province that have the capability to store the vaccine at an ultra-cold temperature, with the public still waiting on the announcement of the sites where the initial vaccine doses will be stored.

Elliott reiterated comments from Monday that the vaccination will not be mandatory and its every Ontarian’s choice to get immunized. She added that there may be “restrictions” put in place for people who do not get the vaccine, including access to public settings like theatres or for travel.

Elliott said the province is still waiting on the exact number of vaccine doses Ontario will be receiving over the coming weeks, but she confirmed it will be a per capita distribution from the federal government, with Ontario expected to get just under 40 per cent of the vaccine.

On Tuesday, Ontario reported 1,676 new COVID-19 cases, including 588 new cases in Toronto, 349 in Peel and 141 in York Region.

Check out our COVID-19 in Canada topic page for latest news, tips, health updates, cases and more.