Vaccination will be mandatory for U of O students in residence
Vaccination will be mandatory for students who want to live in residence at the University of Ottawa this year, with proof of vaccination and at least one dose required before move-in, or within two weeks of doing so if they can't secure a shot before arriving.
Those who can't receive a vaccine for “health-related reasons or other grounds protected under the Ontario Human Rights Code” will be able to submit a request for accommodation through the university's housing portal, according to the university's website.
Students with one dose living in residence will also have to receive their second dose “within the time frame recommended by Ottawa Public Health.”
People who haven't been granted an exemption and don't get vaccinated or submit proof of having done so by the deadlines set out by the school will have their residence agreements terminated, uOttawa warns.
“Medical and health professionals are clear that vaccination is the most (effective) means of protecting people and those around them,” says a statement provided to the Citizen by uOttawa's director of strategic communications, Patrick Charette.
“It is precisely for this reason that the University of Ottawa is requiring all students living in residence for the 2021-2022 academic year to be fully vaccinated. The University recognizes that some students may require accommodations for a variety of reasons and will be treating exceptions appropriately.”
Neither Carleton University nor Algonquin College is currently mandating vaccination for students living in residence, according to their websites. But uOttawa isn't alone in its policy — Western and Trent universities, and Durham and Fanshawe colleges have similar requirements. Seneca College, in the GTA, is going even further, making vaccination mandatory for students and staff to come to campus, in-person, for the fall term.
“I would say I'm supportive of policies that will increase people being protected,” Dr. Barbara Yaffe, Ontario's associate chief medical officer of health said Tuesday in response to a media question about Seneca's new policy.
Asked whether Ottawa Public Health supports the uOttawa residence policy and would recommend other post-secondary institutions adopt it, deputy medical officer of health Dr. Brent Moloughney said the issue of mandatory vaccinations “is really best addressed at the provincial level,” which would be the lead on any compulsory vaccination policy for post-secondary institutions or any other setting.
“From OPH's perspective, we would certainly strongly encourage people to be vaccinated,” Moloughney noted, pointing out that university residences and classrooms present the potential for the worrisome three “Cs” — crowding, confined spaces, and prolonged close contact.
A spokesperson for Ontario's minister of colleges and universities told the Citizen they'll continue to work with the Ministry of Health, the chief medical officer of health and public health experts as they consult with post-secondary schools on reopening plans.