Premier Ford pressed to investigate 'statistical curiosity' over vaccine medical exemptions in PC caucus

Premier Doug Ford has a 'statistical curiosity' on his hands, according to his political critics, after two members of his caucus provided medical exemptions for the COVID-19 vaccine – a rate that far exceeds the rest of the province.

MPPs Christina Mitas and Lindsey Park both provided the government with proof of a medical exemption, allowing them to remain within the Progressive Conservative caucus while unvaccinated. The concentration of exemptions within the same caucus is being characterized as an anomaly and has prompted calls for an independent review of the validity of the exemptions.

On Tuesday, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health confirmed that in most cases only two medical exemptions can apply: a severe allergic reaction to any of the components of the vaccines confirmed by an allergist; or a risk of pericarditis or myocarditis which predominantly applies to younger age groups.

Dr. Kieran Moore said when combined “we should be seeing medical exemptions at the risk of around one to five per 100,000” but suggested some employees in Ontario may be receiving fraudulent exemptions to avoid disciplinary action.

Moore said the rate of medical exemptions reported by workers in Ontario is “higher” than the general risk which he believes “deserves a review.”