Vaccine-card enforcement: 885 complaints filed in B.C.; 13 violation tickets issued

Just over a dozen enforcement tickets were handed out in the first month of B.C.'s vaccine-card program, but hundreds of complaints were issued to officials.

Just over a dozen enforcement tickets were handed out in the first month of B.C.'s vaccine-card program, but hundreds of complaints were issued to officials.

B.C.'s vaccine card rules rolled out on Sept. 13, requiring proof of immunization to access many discretionary businesses and events like restaurants, movie theatres and games.

In a statement to CTV News Vancouver, B.C.'s public safety ministry and office of the solicitor general said 885 complaints have so far been received by local health authorities and the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch.

From those, 648 were investigated and 401 were "resolved through education and compliance," the ministry's statement said.

Beyond that, 48 warning letters were issued and 13 violation tickets were handed out.

As of Oct. 3, only three tickets had been issued, meaning 10 more were handed out in a 12-day period. 

As well, the ministry said three closure orders were issued to businesses over the past month. Two liquor licences were suspended and one business licence was suspended.