Error codes causing vaccination passport issues for some Quebecers

MONTREAL (CityNews) – Quebec’s vaccine passport system has been in place since Wednesday, but some have had a hard time getting their proof of vaccination downloaded in time.

They say they’ve even been refused access at certain non-essential businesses.

Some vaccination centres in Montreal, including in Pointe-Claire, are offering help to people running into issues getting their QR codes.

“Unfortunately the computer systems did not register the second vaccine that I got, so I’m running around trying to get it all rectified in order to have the passport,” explained Aaron Makovka. “When I tried to get into a restaurant, I pulled up my QR code and it only showed that I had one dose of the vaccine as opposed to two so that’s where it gets refused.

“It’s very frustrating but it shows you that no system is perfect. You would think with the computers everything would come out the way it should but it’s really not the case. I’m not the only person and it makes you run around but I guess that’s part of living during a time of the pandemic.”

Makovka says he was recently shown leniency when he wasn’t able to prove his full vaccination status since Quebec’s vaccine passport system has an initial two-week grace period applying to places like restaurants, bars and gyms.

However, this wasn’t the case for everyone who have had vaccine-proof problems.

“I just went to my gym, like I go there each day to just go to the gym. And they told me I need the QR code for them since they had the rules that they need to scan it but I told them that couldn’t really show them because it’s a problem with the website that they won’t let me retrieve it,” explained Gurbaj Singh.

Singh received an error code on the proof of vaccination portal, saying it wasn’t possible to download it.

“I was a bit disappointed. I got my vaccinations on time, I downloaded the app on time and I couldn’t get the QR code.”

His issue was finally resolved after six hours of attempting to call Services Quebec hotline and going to his local vaccination centre.

But for Makovka, his unknown issue wasn’t all sorted out in person.

“I have to run to another place to see if they could dig up some other archives because they weren’t able to find them here.”

At the Bob Birnie Arena vaccination site, it’s all hands on deck recently and regional health authorities are now encouraging to make appointments for help at other local sites.

“The best-case is go back to the center where they received the vaccination. Our point of view, we’re going to check on every step on our side if it was a mistake on the registration,” explained Marie-Pierre Bourbonnais, Manager of the Bob Birnie vaccination centre.

Bourbonnais added occasionally the vaccination doesn’t register on the province’s vaccination registry. “So if this is the case we’ll be able to ask for a correction. Then it will work.”

The health ministry tells CityNews in a statement:

“Given the high traffic for two days, it is possible that, due to the high number of queries on the quebec.ca site, it may take longer than usual to access the QR code. We recommend that people try again a bit later. It is important to mention that sending the QR code in paper form via the 1-877 telephone service is a service to help in exceptional situations only.”