Data entry delays dog launch of vaccination card program By: Danielle Da Silva Posted: 7:05 PM CDT Wednesday, Jun. 23, 2021 Last Modified: 8:57 PM CDT Wednesday, Jun. 23, 2021 Updates

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/06/2021 (1236 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

People who are fully vaccinated are being promised more COVID-19 pandemic privileges, as the Manitoba government lifts its restrictions.

However, data entry delays have left some struggling to prove they got their shots, just as business operators get set to enforce the new rules.

On Wednesday, Manitoba public health officials said fully vaccinated people can eat a meal indoors at a restaurant with other fully vaccinated people they do not live with, as of Saturday. Indoor dining for partially, or unvaccinated, people will be restricted to household members only.

The new rule is expected to be the first of many that will allow fully vaccinated Manitobans to take part in activities others cannot — including large-scale, outdoor professional sports or concerts — by using the government’s secure immunization card and QR code as proof.

“We will be looking at our government in the next couple of days to really come up with a really co-ordinated, fact-based, and educated plan, on how we are to carry this out,” said Shaun Jeffrey, executive director of the Manitoba Restaurant & Foodservices Association.

Restaurant operators have also raised concerns the new rules could be a point of conflict in dining rooms, Jeffrey said, noting they will be hard-pressed to find time for staff to confirm vaccination status of diners.

“We’re looking to Manitobans to really be aware and do their part when they’re going to a restaurant, and being prepared, having that QR code available for scanning,” Jeffrey said.

Manitobans who have been fully vaccinated for two weeks or more can request the secure immunization card to be provided as either a digital or hard copy. The card contains a unique QR code that can be scanned by the province’s “Manitoba Immunization Card” mobile application to verify the card holder is fully vaccinated.

The application became available Wednesday on the Google Play and App Store platforms.

Restaurant operators will be expected to verify the vaccination status of people who want to dine indoors using the application when new public health orders come into force Saturday. People from different households do not need to provide proof of vaccination to dine outdoors.

Jeffrey said most operators will ensure their dining room is in compliance with the orders, and will ask for the vaccine status of patrons if it means tables will be filled.

“Do we want to do more work? Absolutely not. But will we do this so we can open up our restaurants? We absolutely will,” he said.

Despite being fully vaccinated himself, Jeffery said he will not be able to dine-in with friends anytime soon, as his provincial vaccination record was incomplete.

As of Wednesday, his first immunization, which took place in March, had yet to be recorded, he said.

“I understand that there’s hiccups, but this is a pretty important process and a lot of things that we want to do with our lives, whether it’s travel or go out to restaurants and eat with our friends inside, are really sitting on the line with this,” Jeffrey said.

Winnipegger Doug Lang was also fuming Wednesday, after finding out his wife’s vaccine record did not show her second shot June 3. Meanwhile, Lang’s second shot from Monday was already recorded.

Lang said his wife was eager to visit her brother in a care home, but cannot do so without her proof of vaccination.

“I’m frustrated because I can’t visit my brother-in-law without that card,” Lang said. “At the care home, you can’t go in to sit and visit in his room without that damn card and that’s the part that upsets me.”

In order to get the secure immunization card, an individual’s COVID-19 vaccination record must reflect two doses were given and two weeks have elapsed since the final shot.

Lang said he emailed the provincial email account dedicated to correcting and modifying COVID-19 vaccination records and received an automated reply.

After calling the Access West public health office in Winnipeg, Lang said he was told some records from as far back as May have yet to be entered.

A spokesman for Manitoba’s COVID-19 vaccine task force said there have been data entry delays due to “very high” volumes, but work is underway to catch up.

If someone was vaccinated at a medical clinic or pharmacy, and their information is not recorded, they are advised to contact the provider, the province said.

Meanwhile, the province’s dedicated email address for vaccine record corrections and updates was also swamped.

“Additional staff are being hired,” the spokesman said. “In the meantime, anyone who emails the inbox will receive an automated message advising them to expect delays.”

Lang said that response was not good enough.

“All I get is the run around or my emails are ignored. We’re just really shafted. I feel like I’ve been lied to.”

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca