[Reporter] This is what Leigh Eliason would call a good day.
It's always been a challenge.
I've been ill for
over 20 years now.
Thankfully, I'm in a pretty I would say stable place right now.
[Reporter] But to us, she sums up her medical history as complicated.
[Eliason] I've had times in life where I've been bedridden for years at a time.
My neurological system went wonky.
Lights were too bright, sounds were too loud.
Crippling head pain.
I've also had heart problems and arrhythmias and heart surgeries.
[Reporter] You can see why she's petrified
by the thought of an adverse reaction
any reaction, really, to the COVID vaccine.
She's not anti-vaxx or anti-science
but for her, the question marks are paralyzing.
The idea of possibly setting myself back
is terrifying to me.
[Reporter] In the last several weeks
the worlds of the unvaccinated have gotten smaller.
If you work at Air Canada, LCBO, the big banks
if you want to attend university, live in residence
go see a Jay's game
in some provinces, even eat at a restaurant or go to a gym
you'll often either need proof of vaccination or an exemption.
And you get one of those from a guy like this.
Dr. Jason Profetto is a family physician in Hamilton, Ontario.
So how often are you getting these requests exactly?
The requests and inquiries about exemption notes and letters
we're talking about dozens per morning or hundreds per week.
[Reporter] He very much wants to help
but Dr. Profetto tells us he hasn't issued any exemptions.
Not a single one.
And he doesn't know any doctor who has.
[Dr. Chagla] Hey Andrew.
[Reporter] Hey, how are you doing?
It's been really nice having you on speed dial Dr. Chagla.
No it's good, the exemption piece is something a lot of groups
are struggling with and for the vast, vast, vast majority of people
they don't actually fit that medical exemption category.
[Reporter] What are you telling me, that
a cancer patient: eligible or not eligible for medical exemptions?
Not eligible for medical exemption
and in fact should be at the top of the list to get vaccinated.
Someone with an autoimmune disease, would they be eligible for an exemption?
No, they would again not be exempt
there's no evidence that vaccines set off autoimmune conditions
and so again they would be in the top of the list
because of the highest risk of complications.
Someone with heart complications, cardiac issues.
Exemption or no exemption?
Yeah, as long as they're in good shape
they're not having an acute cardiac issue
they again can very much get a vaccine.
[Reporter] But we know some Canadians have been able to get medical exemptions.
What about a vaccine allergy?
Specifically to a compound called PEG.
We're talking about polyethylene glycol which you can find
specifically in the mRNA vaccines
is this a common allergy?
Can it lead to a severe reaction if you get these vaccines?
Yeah, so PEG is a really, really common compound in our environment.
Here's what Dr. Chagla means.
Polyethylene glycol or PEG is in all of these things.
From creams to conditioners, laxatives, Tylenol, cosmetics
and even if you did have a true PEG allergy
you wouldn't even necessarily react to the vaccine
and most people are usually just fine under supervision.
That allergy, even though it's really documented is rare
and again the odds of being anaphylactic to it are rare
and on top of that the odds of being anaphylactic to the vaccine
is even rarer.
[Reporter] But if I'm understanding you correctly
if we're only talking about let's say first vaccine doses
is there any known medical condition
that would absolutely prevent someone from getting
the COVID vaccine?
No, again not to my knowledge.
There's very little on that first dose
that is an exemption to vaccination.
[Reporter] But that doesn't make life any easier for family doctors
because for those on the front line
it's rarely just about the science.
You're also trying to think of the human being and you're trying to inject
some compassion into your decision?
Yes.
As well, is that fair to say?
In a world of black and white
I work in the gray.
We need to use science, we need to use medical evidence
we need to trust our experts
we have to and at the same time
we need to come down to Earth
we need to be sensitive and understanding
of individual differences and opinions
and proceed in the most appropriate manner that we can.
[Reporter] So where does that leave someone like Leigh?
It gets even more complicated
because not only is there no national standard
of who's exempt, who's not
there isn't even consensus on whether medical exemptions
should be allowed at all.
We're all in this whirlwind of information
that seems to be changing daily.
[Reporter] Where she lives under B.C.'s new vaccine passport system
there are no exemptions.
But if she lived in Ontario or Quebec
a note from her doctor would make all the difference.
So I suppose I just have to wait and see what happens.