Public Health Changes to COVID Vaccine Policy

December 14, 2021 — As announced by both Durham Public Health and the Government of Ontario, anyone age 12 years and older participating in indoor sports on or after December 20, 2021 must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. For more specific information and timelines, please see reference document #1 below which provides greater detail as well as information for those who have just turned (or are about to turn) 12-years-old.

Effective January 4, 2022, only the enhanced vaccine certificate with an official QR code will be accepted as proof of vaccination when entering an indoor recreational facility in Ontario. See reference document #2 below for information on how to obtain this scannable QR code. If your athlete does not have a smartphone, please print the scannable QR code for the athlete to keep in their volleyball bag to ensure they are able to enter venues without incident. We also recommend making a copy of the athlete’s identification and keeping it in their bag with their enhanced vaccine certificate.

Facilities are no longer permitted to grant medical exemptions and anyone being granted a medical exemption will be issued an official QR code by the Ministry of Health. 

Members will be updated prior to our January 3 return date on the new procedures going forward Please review the reference documents below for more specific information. Please review the COVID-19 section in our Member Zone for the most current information and policies with respect to COVID-19.

Reference Documents: 

  1. Durham Public Health Fact Sheet (Dec. 14, 2021)
  2. How to get your scannable enhanced QR code
  3. Government of Ontario: Responding to Omicron and Protecting our Progress

*Note: The current (green) QR code stored in Apple Wallet is NOT an enhanced vaccine certificate and will not verify through the Verify Ontario app. If you’re currently using this as proof of vaccination, please download the enhanced vaccine certificate with an official QR code before January 4, 2022. 

Thank you,

Paul Koot
Club President