Ministry of Health Guidance on Medical Exemptions for COVID-19 Vaccinations

Approved patients will be provided with an enhanced vaccine certificate (with a QR code) from the Ontario Portal, to access settings where proof of vaccination is required.

Patients seeking exemptions for COVID-19 vaccines will require a medical assessment of risk from a physician or registered nurse in the extended class (nurse practitioner) who practices within Ontario.

Health care providers practicing within the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) area (Akwesasne, Cornwall, Prescott-Russell, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry) are asked to follow the process described below.

• If the patient is deemed at risk from all COVID-19 vaccines, and meets one of the approved exemptions, the exemption form MUST be filled out by the medical practitioner who performed the assessment. Practitioners must confirm with patients that they consent to collection, use and disclosure of their personal health information to the EOHU, including any subsequent questions or communications between the practitioner and the EOHU as may be needed to clarify the exemption, in order to create an exemption in COVaxON.
• Completed forms must be sent by the healthcare provider to the EOHU via fax at 613-933-5121. Healthcare providers who have not received the form can contact the EOHU to get a copy.
  • Once the form is received and validated, the EOHU will input the exemption into COVaxON, and the patient will be able to download an enhanced vaccine certificate (with a QR code) from the Ontario Portal.
  • If the exemption is denied by the EOHU, the EOHU will alert the practitioner, with information on why the exemption was denied. The decision may be appealed by contacting the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health by emailing covid.immunization@ontario.ca and requesting a review of the exemption request.

Previously given exemptions must be resubmitted to the EOHU, using the exemption form.

Doctor’s notes will not be accepted as proof of exemption as of January 10, 2022 for venues that require vaccination for entry. Exemption forms received by December 29, 2021 should be processed in time for this deadline.

Please note, for patients participating in Health Canada approved COVID-19 vaccine trials, the Principal Investigator or Study Director will submit an exemption request and collect proof of consent for each participant that is seeking an enhanced vaccine certificate.

For guidance from the Ministry of Health, see Medical Exemptions to COVID-19 Vaccination.

If you have any further questions, please contact the Eastern Ontario Health Unit at 1-800-267-7120.