MEMO: Expiring Medical Exemptions for COVID-19 Vaccination

TO:  Health Care Professionals in the Niagara Region

FROM: Pandemic Response Division, Niagara Region Public Health

REFERENCE: Expiring Medical Exemptions for COVID-19 Vaccination

DATE:  May 19, 2022

In follow up to the December 22, 2021 memo New Process for Providing Medical Exemptions for COVID-19 Vaccination, while there are no changes to the medical exemption process or form, the Ministry of Health has notified Public Health that many medical exemptions will be expiring over the next several weeks. As a result, your practice may see a slight increase in patients reaching out about renewing a medical exemption, specifically those who rely on the electronic record of their enhanced vaccine certificate to show their QR code (copies of enhanced vaccine certificates that were downloaded and printed before expiry will still work).

No changes to exemption expiry or criteria 

• Due to new vaccines being added to the market, medical exemptions will not be made permanent
• The Ministry of Health will maintain a maximum six-month expiry date for all COVID-19 medical exemptions

Patients are responsible for contacting their health care provider for reassessment

• Public Health will not be following up to remind individuals whose medical exemptions are expiring
• Health care providers are not required to notify patients of expiring exemptions
  • It continues to be the responsibility of the patient to book an appointment with their health care provider for assessment against the new vaccines on the market
• If a medical exemption is still appropriate, the health care provider is then required to submit a new form to Public Health for assessment and documentation in COVaxON
  • Please use Niagara’s Medical Exemption Covid Template to submit medical exemptions to Niagara Region’s secure fax number: 905-346-1014
  • To access the template, please contact our COVID-19 Info-Line at 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074, press 7

Proof of vaccination

Patients may still be required to show proof of vaccination in the following situations:

• Where businesses and organizations have chosen to continue requiring proof of vaccination upon entry
• Travelling within and outside of Canada

More information

Call the COVID-19 Primary Care Info-Line at 905-688-8248 (press 7, then 1 for physicians).