As COVID-19 vaccination passports roll out across the country, CNIB is publicly urging the provincial governments and local public health units to ensure their vaccine passport systems and implementation strategies are accessible to Canadians with sight loss. CNIB has distributed the following letter to Canada's Premiers.
CNIB urges that:
- Systems and applications for obtaining vaccine passports should be accessible and tested by individuals with sight loss who use assistive technology. Online vaccine passport systems and mobile applications must be WCAG 2.0 compliant, at minimum, according to the law.
- Proof of vaccination or PDF receipts of vaccination must be accessible as a paper copy, including in large print and use of braille to indicate the document. For individuals without access to a printer, there must be a way for people with sight loss to acquire the proof of vaccination from an appropriate healthcare provider.
- All information presented to those obtaining vaccine passports or providing proof of vaccination should be as accessible as possible.
Further, any system that assesses an individual’s vaccine passport, by QR code or otherwise, must be made accessible for staff and/or volunteers who may be blind or partially sighted.
CNIB is publicly asking you to reply to this letter, outlining the accessibility accommodations that will be included in your vaccine passport distribution strategy. CNIB will be publishing your response on our website to ensure Canadians with sight loss can learn what to expect as the province rolls out it’s vaccine passports.
Together, we can ensure that the implementation of vaccine passports is safe, effective, and accessible. Thank you for your attention on this important matter. We look forward to hearing from you at your earliest opportunity.
Regards,
John M. Rafferty
President and CEO
CNIB