No clear details yet on how the mandate will be enforced
To protect the university from outbreaks and to protect individuals from disease, the University of Guelph is mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for all faculty, staff, and students on campus during the 2021-22 academic year.
The announcement was made today by President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Charlotte Yates in consultation with the University’s Executive Team, WDG Public Health, and Chatham-Kent Public Health.
“We know that being fully vaccinated significantly reduces the risks of the most serious outcomes of COVID-19,” said Yates.
“To date, this has also been true for the variants-of-concern. Vaccines are now readily accessible in Ontario, and our plans allow University faculty, staff and students to have access to vaccinations through Student Health Services. Several pop-up clinics are also being planned for the fall, and vaccinations can always be booked through the provincial portal.”
U of G and other Ontario universities have been imploring the federal government to implement vaccination mandates on campuses for several months now, said Yates in a town hall meeting on Aug. 12, 2021. However, a lack of action from the government prompted the university to take action into its own hands.
Some town hall attendees asked why the mandate wasn’t announced earlier, to which Yates responded that officials wanted to first ensure that all Ontario communities had sufficient access to vaccines.
While Yates said there are no plans for the university to actively enforce the mandate or become a “carding campus,” all eligible faculty, staff, students, and visitors who come to campus are expected to be vaccinated and have completed a screening form before arriving.
According to the U of G’s COVID-19 Vaccination FAQ, more information on the details around enforcement will be released next week. Masks and physical distancing will also continue to be encouraged.
Vaccinations will be available on campus to accommodate those who still need their first or second dose, and students who miss classes or assignments due to quarantine must ask for accommodations like with any other illness, such as asking a classmate for notes or deferring a deadline.
Individuals exempt from vaccination for medical reasons or by grounds protected under the Ontario Human Rights Code may request accommodation.
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