Effective Sept. 13, indoor places which carry a higher risk of COVID-19 transmission will be only accessible to those with proof of at least one dose of vaccine. (Pixabay/BC Government/NanaimoNewsNOW illustration)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

VAX SCAN

Scannable vaccine card launched to access restaurants, movie theatres, gyms & more

Sep 7, 2021 | 2:01 PM

NANAIMO — The province has unveiled its complete plan for its rollout of a proof of vaccine card, to be used to access high-transmission risk indoor settings.

Effective Sept. 13, proof of at least one dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine will be required at restaurants for indoor dining, organized indoor events such as parties, conferences and concerts with more than 50 people.

Vaccination will also be required to attend ticketed indoor sporting events, fitness centres and gyms, night clubs, casinos and movie theatres. Full vaccination will be required by Oct. 24.

“We all have to unite once again with a common purpose to see the BC Vaccine Card as a way to get to those places where we want to be, at a sporting event, at the theatre going out to a movie, having dinner with friends,” Premier John Horgan said during the Tuesday, Sept. 7 announcement. “Large gatherings can take place with double vaccination.”

Places such as fast food or takeout restaurants, shopping centres and food courts are not included in the vaccine card program.

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The card can be obtained through a newly-launched government website.

Once obtained, the card will display a QR code which can be scanned on entry. Businesses will be asked to compare the name shown on the vaccination proof with a government issued ID to cut down on fraud.

Paper copies can be obtained for those without or unwilling to use a smartphone by calling 1-833-838-2323 or visiting a Service BC Centre.

The province said the vaccine card contains only the minimum amount of data to verify vaccination status and are not connected to other health records.

Those from out-of-province will be required to show their vaccine record from their home province or territory along with a valid government photo ID. International visitors must present the proof of vaccination used to enter the country along with their passport.

Businesses in the affected categories will be asked to scan codes and present valid government photo ID, or conduct visual verifications as people enter similar to checking proof of age for alcohol sales.

A full list of affected businesses and events which will be subject to the BC Vaccine Card beginning Sept. 13. (BC Government)

The business card-sized immunization record card, issued to people when they received their dose(s) of vaccine, will be able to be used as proof of immunization until Sept. 27 to allow for a soft launch of the BC Vaccine Card.

Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, said without the vaccine card program, additional restrictions would be required to keep non-essential businesses from closing as they did in Spring 2020.

“We have put the vaccine card in place to keep businesses open, to keep people working and…to keep people safe. If you’ve not yet been vaccinated, that is your choice but these essential activities and services will remain open for you.”

Those found to be circumventing the vaccine card system can face penalty, similar to other public health orders currently in place.

Tickets can be issued by police officers, liquor and cannabis inspectors, gaming investigators and conservation officers.

Fines range from $230 to $575 for individuals and $2,300 for event organizers or business owners and operators.

“Ultimately the choice is yours about whether you choose to be vaccinate or not, but what we need to do is make sure we can continue to keep things open as much as possible and that’s what the BC Vaccine Card is all about,” Dr. Henry said.

As of Sept. 2, 84 per cent of Nanaimo and Oceanside residents aged 12 and older had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. It’s slightly below the provincial total of 85.4 per cent.

Modelling from public health presented in August showed under or un-vaccinated people face a 12 times greater risk of infection, 34 times greater risk of hospitalization and eight times greater risk of dying as a result of COVID-19.

Video from Tuesday’s announcement is below:

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