Navigating a COVID-19 vaccine passport society won't be easy for those who remain unvaccinated

When Nathan Maharaj volunteered to be part of a human vaccine trial, he didn't think he'd be shut out ofOntario restaurants, gyms and even weddings a few months later.

Maharaj has been fully vaccinated withthe Quebec-based Medicagotrialvaccine since April.

But he's one Ontarianwho, for various reasons,didn't get vaccinated withCOVID-19vaccines approved by the World Health Organization a requirement for people to obtain a passportgranting access to non-essential servicesstarting Sept. 22 in the province.

"My understanding is that I won't [get a passport]," said Maharaj, who lives inToronto."It's not clear what I can do about it.... I can't go sign up for Pfizer or Moderna or what have you, but that would be an experiment of its own kind.

"It feels a little lonely out here."

Meanwhile, Johna City of Ottawa employee whomCBC News agreed not to identifybecause he fears a backlash is holding off on getting his second jab after what he describes as severe neurological complications following a Pfizer shot on April 28.

He said hesuffered formonthsfrom inflammation of the spinal cord, severe brain fog, intense migraines, muscle twitches andchest pains, among other symptoms.

"It scares me that I don't know what will happen if I have to get a second [mRNA] shot," Johnsaid.

After he explainedhis situation toOttawa Public Health, it recommended he get the second shot anyway. He said he wants the Novavaxvaccine instead, which is not yet authorized in Canada.

John's employer also gave him an ultimatum: be fully vaccinated by Nov. 1or lose his job. John says his mental health is suffering, and he's anxious about what bigger toll a vaccine passport society will take on him and his family's well-being.

"I feel left behind. There is absolutely nothing out there, and my doctor won't even discussit with meanymore," he said. "It's like we're brushed aside, people who've had side-effects from the vaccine."

Unvaccinated won't enjoy 'being shut out'

There are millions of Canadians who haven't been vaccinated against COVID-19 for a number of reasons, includingmedicalissues, allergies and lack of access. But among the unvaccinated are those who are simply opposed to vaccines, known as "anti-vaxxers," and those who saythat mandatory vaccination violates their freedom.

Steve Joordens, a psychology professor at the University of Toronto's Scarborough campus, saidthe unvaccinated particularly those who are "part of theanti-vaxxercommunity" may have seen their social networks "significantly pruned."

Theywill also feel ostracized and that "the massive proportion of the population do not understand them," he said. "It's going to be a difficult place to be."

As the vaccine passportsystem begins in many provinces, Joordens said, the unvaccinated will "crave" amenities and activities they once accessed freelyand feel inconvenienced.

"They will not enjoy ... being second-class citizens, being shut out," he said. "My bet is ... they will quietly get vaccinated.

"And for the rest of us, for our part, we have to be thankful for every one of them that makes that decision. We have to resist gloating."

However, he said, those who aren't vaccinated will have to view the vaccine passport system as an extended lockdown.

"Life isn't fair to some extent.... The rules that you have to live by might have to change a little bit. So if some of these peoplehave to live underlockdown rules a little longer than the rest of us, that sucks."

Cost-benefit analysis helpful in decision

Laura Scrimgeour, a behavioural scientist in Gatineau, Que., and co-founder of Strategic Bias, which consults for the government on environmental and health issues, says for someone who's undecided about vaccination, it might be beneficial for them to do a cost-benefit analysis based on reliable sources and data.

"Ihope they would come out on the side of the vaccine, but ... it's for each individual to decide what's right for them," she said.

WATCH | Health offocials predict grim 4th wave if vaccinations don't rise:

Health officials project grim 4th wave if vaccinations dont increase

3 years ago

Duration 2:38

The Public Health Agency of Canada released new modelling that suggested a fourth wave could again overwhelm hospitals and put Canadians at risk. The hyper-contagious delta variant leaves provinces with limited options: either raise the vaccination rate or increase restrictions.

Scrimgeoursaid political leaders should also consider allowing a wider range of medical exceptions.

"There are always going to bepeople who can't comply. And to restrict the freedoms of those people is really problematic," she said.

She says it shouldn't be left tothe unvaccinated to figure out how to manage and navigate the passportsystem.

"I think as a society we're going to have to find our way through this," she said. "I certainly wouldn't put it all on the [unvaccinated]. That's like asking people with disabilities to figure out all the accommodationsthat everyone else needs to make."