Honourable Christine Elliott
Minister of Health
5th Floor
777 Bay St.
Toronto, ON
M7A 2J3
Dear Minister Elliott,
As President of the Canadian Snowbird Association (CSA), a non-profit advocacy organization with more than 115,000 members across Canada, I am writing to request that your Ministry allow Ontario residents to update their immunization records to register COVID-19 vaccinations which they have received in the United States and abroad. Tens of thousands of snowbirds have or will soon be returning to Ontario fully vaccinated with a Health Canada approved vaccine. Allowing these individuals to register their vaccinations with the province will ensure that your government has more accurate vaccination data which, in turn, will improve your government’s ability to make decisions as we progress through the staged reopening framework.
Both British Columbia and Quebec already have these systems in place. In British Columbia, individuals who received their COVID-19 vaccine outside of the province can contact a toll-free phone number to update their vaccination status with the BC Ministry of Health. In Quebec, residents who received the COVID-19 vaccine abroad can book an appointment at a designated vaccination centre and provide their ID and proof of vaccination. Following the entry of the information in the vaccination register, an electronic proof of vaccination is issued via email or text message.
The information collected in these systems includes the date the vaccines were administered, which vaccine they received (i.e. Pfizer or Moderna), the clinic location, lot #, and the size of the dose. Such a system can be easily integrated into the Ontario government’s existing vaccine portal and should be done so as soon as possible. Having access to more accurate data on the inoculation of residents will better assist the provincial government as it safely progresses thorough the staged reopening framework which is dependent on meeting vaccination benchmarks.
Thank you for your time and consideration in this important matter.
Sincerely,
Karen Huestis
President
Canadian Snowbird Association
