Ontario’s enhanced COVID-19 vaccine certificate goes into effect today

Ontario’s new enhanced COVID-19 vaccine certificate, which includes a QR code, goes into effect Friday for non-essential businesses like restaurants and gyms.

The provincial government has said the enhanced vaccine certificate will allow for easier and faster entry into settings that require proof of vaccination. As of Thursday, data shows just over four million Ontarians downloaded the QR code.

Businesses will scan the QR code using the free Verify Ontario app, which they were able to download starting last Friday.

Ontarians can save the electronic version of their vaccine certificate to their phone or print a paper copy. The province said businesses must accept both electronic and paper versions.

Those who don’t have a smartphone or access to a printer can also call the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900 to have their enhanced vaccine certificate emailed or mailed to them.

The certificate became available to download for everyone in the province on Monday. The Friday before and until Sunday, the province staggered the download rollout by birth month to prevent overwhelming the system.

However, with many people attempting to download the certificate on Monday morning, it led to technical problems, which province said has since been resolved.

The province also said that current vaccine receipts, which don’t have a QR code, is still valid. However, they are “encouraging individuals to download their enhanced vaccine certificate with a QR code as an easier, more secure and convenient way to have their proof of vaccination verified.”

Ontarians still need to show identification with their name and date of birth when presenting their proof of vaccination.

With files from Michael Ranger and Michael Talbot of CityNews