Following the lead of Seneca College and the University of Ottawa, both University of Toronto (UofT) and Western University made announcements last week regarding a change in their vaccine policies, making vaccines mandatory for all persons on campus for the Fall 2021 semester. Since then, Ryerson University, York University, and Ontario Tech University in Oshawa have also announced deadlines to which people will be allowed on campus before they have received both doses of the vaccine.
With post-secondary institutions around Ontario revising and tightening regulations on their COVID-19 health and safety protocols, it brings into question what vaccine policies will look like in the future for students at George Brown College (GBC).
While the policy right now states that only athletes and students living in residence are required to have the vaccine, this could be subject to change, according to Chris McGrath, Vice President of Student Success.
McGrath told the Dialog in an email, that GBC is ‘reviewing existing policies’ relating to the debate surrounding mandatory vaccinations.
“Last month [GBC] announced COVID-19 policies for students living in residence, and for varsity athletes. Decisions on these policies in particular were made after consultations with the Student Association, a survey of our student athletes, and with legal counsel,” says McGrath.
“Since then, we continue to monitor developments relating to vaccinations and testing on post-secondary campuses as well as public health advisories.”
“We are also currently reviewing our existing policies and plan to share more information with the college community in the week ahead in support of the health and wellbeing of our students, faculty, and staff.”
Western University and its affiliated colleges, Brescia, Huron, and King’s, now require proof of vaccination “as part of a new policy to further protect the campus community,” the university said in a news release on August 11.
Western had already required that students in residence be vaccinated, but last week decided that all students will need to provide proof of vaccination.
Similarly, UofT had originally announced in July that it would require full vaccination for anyone who participates in certain activities deemed high risk, such as sports and music instruction, and for students moving into residence. On August 11, however, the institution made a new announcement that it will mandate self-declaration of COVID-19 vaccination status for anyone present on any of its three campuses during the Fall 2021 semester.
Because of these changing policies, many people are worried that they won’t be able to receive both doses of the vaccine in time for the Fall 2021 semester. In response to this, some post-secondary institutions have implemented deadlines to allow people to receive both doses. If they have not received them by the set date, they will be not be permitted to visit the campus.
Ontario Tech University in Oshawa says it is giving people until October 17 to receive their second vaccination, with Toronto’s York University announcing last Thursday that it will “require all community members and visitors on our campuses this fall to be vaccinated against COVID-19.”
Ryerson University, also in Toronto, announced Friday it will require proof of vaccination starting September 7.
For more information, please visit https://www.georgebrown.ca/covid-19.
