As of September 22, 2021, proof of vaccination is required to enter non-essential businesses across Ontario. Premier Doug Ford said the vaccine certificate policy is necessary to keep non-essential businesses and facilities open as the COVID-19 Delta variant continues to spread.

“We have two options here. We either do this or we risk shutting down the economy, which would even be worse, having our hospital capacity maxed out and at the brink, having our kids stay at home, our college and university kids going back online. That is what we are trying to avoid.”

The Delta variant is believed to be more than twice as contagious as other variants and more likely to put infected people in the hospital, especially unvaccinated individuals.

Under the mandate, proof of vaccination will now be required to enter a variety of facilities in Ontario, including:

  • Indoor areas of restaurants and bars, as well as indoor and outdoor areas of nightclubs (patios and takeout excluded)
  • Indoor areas of concert venues, theatres, cinemas, casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments
  • Indoor areas of sport and recreational facilities, such as gyms, fitness centres, swimming pools, water parks and indoor spectator areas of sports venues 
  • Indoor areas of meeting and event spaces, such as banquet halls, conference and convention centres
  • Indoor areas of horse racing or car racing tracks
  • Indoor areas of strip clubs, bathhouses and sex clubs

To be considered fully vaccinated, you must show proof that you have received the full series of a COVID 19 vaccine or combination of COVID-19 vaccines approved by the World Health Organization (e.g., two doses of a two-dose vaccine series, e.g., Moderna, Pfizer or AstraZeneca, or one dose of a single-dose vaccine series, e.g. Janssen).

Ontario proof of vaccine receipt

You can download and/or print your vaccine receipt through the provincial booking portal, or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Booking Line at 1-833-943-3900. You will be required to show your vaccine receipt – either digitally or a printed copy – along with government issued ID to enter public facilities.  

According to the province, individuals who cannot receive the vaccine due to medical exemptions will be permitted entry with a doctor’s note until recognized medical exemptions can be integrated as part of a digital vaccine certificate. Children who are 11 years of age and younger and unable to be vaccinated will also be exempted from these requirements.

The province is also working to implement an enhanced digital vaccine receipt featuring a scannable QR code that vaccinated individuals will be able to download to their phone. This feature is expected to launch October 22, 2021.

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