Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé provided an update on the province’s COVID-19 immunization campaign on Tuesday afternoon, including new details surrounding the vaccine passport system.
The new system comes into effect on Sept. 1 and proof of vaccination will be required for those aged 13 and over, who wish to access non-essential services such as restaurants, bars, gyms, cinemas, festivals and close-contact sports including school extracurriculars.
The passport, however, will not be required for retail stores. An exhaustive list of services and activities where a passport will be necessary can be found on the Quebec government website. It is currently only available in French but a note indicates an English version will be available soon.
Dubé announced Quebecers will be able to download the VaxiCode application on the Apple App Store starting at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 25.
It is expected to be made available on Google Play in the following hours or days, Dubé indicated.
The application consists of a QR code with the only information shown being the person’s name, date of birth and received vaccines.
Businesses will also have to download an app called VaxiCode Verif, in order to be able to read the QR code. The application for businesses won’t require an internet connection because the system won’t send, receive or save customer data.
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Pilot projects to test the system have been ongoing in several businesses across the province to assess its operability and robustness.
“The tests were very conclusive,” Dubé said. “It works very well.”
A wallet-sized QR code will also be made available in paper format, Dubé said, for those who might find digital technologies more difficult to use. It can also be printed out on your home computer.
Dubé, however, warned that anyone attempting to tamper with the system could face penalties and sanctions, including sanctions under the Criminal Code.
Fines could range between $1,000 to $6,000, he said.
Éric Caire, the province’s Minister Responsible for Access to Information and the Protection of Personal Information, added the QR code provided by the government cannot be falsified, modified or copied.
“So I’m inviting those who would like to obtain one by other means than being adequately vaccinated to be very cautious because they are the only potential victims of a fraudulent QR code,” he said.
Caire said both the VaxiCode and VaxiCode Verif apps are safe to use and there is no danger of fraud or theft of personal information.
On Monday, Dubé said on Twitter Quebecers are continuing to be vaccinated in the thousands, at both walk-in and appointment-only clinics.
He reiterated that message on Tuesday, emphasizing the importance of vaccination.
“Vaccination is a passport to freedom,” he said. “The vaccine passport is the balance we have found to keep our economy open while protecting the population.”
He said vaccination and the passport combined will help keep businesses open and avoid having to prohibit certain activities.
Dubé said that while the passport system might be an annoyance for those who aren’t inoculated, their choice will be respected and they won’t be forced to get the shot.
“But we can’t take the whole population hostage to maintain the privileges of a minority who refuse the vaccine,” he said.
He added that with another school year about to begin it’s important to have a maximum protection.
While the government has exceeded its vaccination targets set in March, there is worry due the variant-driven fourth wave.
Dubé said last year, for the first three weeks of August there were only 2,000 cases of COVID-19, compared to 7,000 this year for a 250 per cent increase.
The good news, however, is that the increase in cases hasn’t translated into an increase in hospitalizations — a sign the vaccine is working, he said.
To date, Quebec has given more than 12. 1 million injections. Officials say 78.5 per cent of Quebecers aged 12 and older are considered adequately vaccinated.
— With files from Global News’ Kalina Laframboise, Alessia Maratta, Olivia O’Malley and The Canadian Press
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