'Exceedingly few' Canadians will qualify for an exemption from a COVID-19 vaccine: experts
Two doctors and a lawyer agree, very few people will be able to get an exemption to avoid a vaccine.
“We expect this to be very, very few people,” says Dr Adam Kassam, President of the Ontario Medical Association.
Dr Kassam says there are two “buckets” under which Canadians can be exempted: allergic reactions or heart problems, and both are based on how the patient handled their first COVID-19 vaccine.
“There are exceedingly few people that actually have an allergic reaction,” says Dr Constance Nasello, an obstetrician and gynecologist based in Chatham, Ont.
Dr Nasello says patients would have to be allergic to polyethylene glycol (PEG), the main component in constipation medications for both children and adults.
“It also is one of the filler components in almost every pill that is on the market so its impossible to not be exposed to PEG.” Says Dr Nasello.
Dr Nasello and Dr Kassam say even if a patient suffers an allergic reaction, they can still get a second dose, under supervision from an allergist or an immunologist.
“There are immunologists and allergists who will go an entire career without seeing an allergy to, for example the PEG component of a vaccine. So we don’t expect this to be very common.” Says Dr Kassam
When it comes to the heart, Dr Kassam says patients would have to suffer from inflammation of the heart muscle or heart membrane, known as pericarditis or myocarditis.
“In those circumstances physicians may advise patients to actually delay their second dose until more is known about that specific complication.”
Getting an exemption based on religious beliefs, might also prove tricky for Canadians, according to a Canadian employement lawyer.
“Almost nobody.” Says Howard Levitt. “That's not just my view. Its the fact.”
Levitt says to get an exemption, on religious grounds, the person must be a part of an organized religion, with strict vaccine beliefs.
“Its not a matter of personal faith but an organized religion that prohibits vaccination as a serious, substantial tenet of that religion.” Says Levitt.
“And there simply are not that many religions in the world that have that as a tenet and few of them are in Canada.”
In a fact sheet, from their website, the Ontario Human Rights Commission addresses the matter of vaccine exemptions, based on creed.
It states “The OHRC’s position is that a singular belief or personal preference against vaccinations or masks does not appear to be protected on the ground of creed under the Code.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.