Fully vaccinated Foothills residents will need to start showing QR codes as proof of vaccination starting Monday at restaurants, theatres, pubs and other businesses participating in the Restrictions Exemption Program.
The provincial government introduced the QR codes and a QR code scanner app for businesses in October.
An Okotoks registry has been busy printing off the codes for people who are unable to do it themselves.
“There are people in here every day getting it done,” said Bev Carlson, owner of Ardiel Agencies in Okotoks.
The inability to print the code is the biggest issue, she said.
“Tons of people just don’t print stuff at home,” Carlson said.
It is free to have your QR code printed off at the registry. An Alberta health care number, ID and the month you received one of your vaccines is required to access the code.
“It’s a pretty easy thing to do,” said Carlson. “When people come in, it literally just takes one minute. It’s quick and easy and we are super happy to do it.”
A number of the people who are using the registry are seniors, said Carlson
Jackie Riley, club facilitator for the Okotoks and District Seniors Club, said she has heard from members that they have been able to get their QR codes and some have asked for help from friends and neighbours.
“Ninety per cent of the people I know of have either had their neighbours, I myself have done some for them, or their children or grandchildren have done it for them,” Riley said.
No printer at home has also been the main issue for people who have needed help getting their QR code, said Riley.
She hasn’t heard complaints about getting or using the QR codes, she added.
“We haven’t had any negative feedback,” said Riley. “It’s been awesome.”
Businesses also must be ready to scan the QR codes, using an app created by the government.
Amber Wigg, general manager of Okotoks Cinemas, said on Friday she is still trying to get a device to scan QR codes by Monday.
“I can’t seem to download (the scanner) on non-iPhone products,” Wigg said, including her Samsung phone. “Nobody can seem to find it. I’m trying to buy somebody’s old iPhone so we can have a scanning device and not have to rely on my shift workers to be using their personal phones.”
The expense of having a device to scan QR codes is a problem she will have to pay for out of pocket, Wigg said.
The theatre only started participating in the Restrictions Exemption Program (REP) last wee., Previously, they were limiting theatre-goers to one-third the capacity. Wigg said business has been below one-third capacity since they started limiting patrons to those who are vaccinated.
“When we did join the REP, I did notice a little bit of a dip in people coming in because people need the proper documentation,” she said. “But we are doing OK.”
It is unclear if the downturn in business is because the movie they are showing changed, she said, or it is because some people are no longer able to come into the theatre.
She is worried that the trend will continue now that proof is restricted to a QR code only.
“I’m terrified because right now because 50 per cent of people are not producing their QR code, they are producing the vaccination status that doesn’t have a QR code attached to it…so I’m nervous,” she said.
Over the weekend she will be putting up messaging about Monday’s deadline for a QR code proof of vaccination on the Okotoks Cinema’s website and social media sites, she said.
Other proofs of vaccination can be accepted from military and First Nations health clinics and for out-of-province visitors after the Nov. 15 deadline.
For information on accessing QR code's click here.
