Expanding vaccine passports possible solution to increased hospitalizations, experts say

Hospitalizations in Ontario are quickly rising towards their pandemic peak in the third wave. Sunday saw more than 2,400 Ontarians hospitalized from COVID-19, including 60 in the capital.

Reports of overwhelmed hospitals are coming in from across the country, as outbreaks and staffing challenges leave healthcare workers exhausted.

“The health-care system would not be overwhelmed or at the brink of being overwhelmed if we had a fully vaccinated population,” Dr. Peter Juni told CTV News Toronto on Thursday. 

The suggestion has some health experts looking for ways to increase Ontario’s vaccination coverage, particularly among those without a first dose.

“Even moving vaccination numbers up by a few percentage points seems to make a significant difference and I don’t think we can underscore the importance of that,” Montreal-based epidemiologist and cardiologist Dr. Christopher Labos said.