Starting today (October 15) and continuing over the weekend, Ontarians can download their new enhanced COVID-19 vaccination certificates.
The enhanced certificate features a QR code businesses and organizations can scan using a verification app, also now available for free on the Google and Apple app stores.
Although the new enhanced certificate system does not go into effect until next Friday (October 22), the Ontario government is making the enhanced vaccination certificates and verification app available in advance to allow people to become familiar with them.
For the first three days, the Ontario government is staggering the ability of Ontarians to download the enhanced certificate from covid19.ontariohealth.ca by their birth month.
“Between October 15 and 17, we are limiting the number of people onto the website to make sure it can handle the increased demand,” the website says.
Those born from January to April can download their certificate on Friday, those born from May to August can download it on Saturday, and those born from September to December can download it on Sunday.
If you don’t have the chance to download your certificate over the weekend, you can visit the website again on Monday (October 18), when anyone can download their certificate regardless of their birth month. People can save the electronic version to their phone or print a paper copy, or they can call the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900 to have their enhanced vaccine certificate emailed or mailed to them.
The new verification app for businesses, called Verify Ontario, was released on Google Play and the Apple App Store yesterday.
The app scans the QR code on the enhanced vaccine certificate.
“Verify Ontario gives businesses and organizations a quick, easy and trusted way to scan and confirm that visitors are fully vaccinated,” the app description reads. “After scanning a QR code, the business or organization will see: a green checkmark indicating that it meets vaccine requirements, a red X for an invalid certificate, or a yellow warning indicating that the QR code cannot be read.”
The app will also show the name and date of birth of the holder of the vaccine certificate, so their identity can be verified.
The Verify Ontario app does not require an internet connection to work (other than for periodic updates), but does require permission to a device’s camera to scan the QR code. According to the province, the app never stores personal information and only shows the minimum amount of information necessary to confirm vaccination.
Businesses must accept both electronic and paper versions of the vaccine certificate with a QR code. While the current vaccine receipt without a QR code remains valid and will continue to be accepted, the province is encouraging people to download their enhanced vaccine certificate as an easier, more secure, and convenient way to have their proof of vaccination verified.
Ontarians will need to continue to show a piece of identification with their name and date of birth along with their proof of vaccination when visiting businesses and organizations that require proof of vaccination.
The story has been updated with additional details from the province.
