by Lexey Burns, Editor-in-Chief
Students returning to Laurentian University will be required to have their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by September 4th and the second dose by October 15th.
On August 11th, 2021, Robert Haché released a President’s Update saying “Laurentian University will require COVID-19 vaccinations for students living in residence, as well as varsity student athletes, as of September.”
“This decision is being made to prioritize the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff and community members,” Haché said.
Haché said a number of different factors, “such as the low vaccination rates for people aged 18-29 in our region, the Delta variant of COVID-19, and the congregate living setting in residences,” contributed to Public Health Sudbury & Districts’ (PHSD) concerns about the return to campus.
The update says that students living in residence and varsity athletes who “are unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons or other grounds protected under the Ontario Human Rights Code” can submit an accommodation request through Accessibility.
Haché said that the university will be hosting vaccine clinics for students, but encourages students to get it before arriving on campus.
Rita Nundu, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing student said “I personally don’t think the vaccine should be made mandatory for return to campus.”
“Whether you get vaccinated or not should be a personal choice [and] we all deserve an education,” she said.
Kayla Dibblee, Residence Life Coordinator said in an email that a “FAQ for students will be available shortly and will be updated regularly as more questions/ answers come up.”
“The decision to implement vaccination requirements for individuals choosing to live in a Laurentian Residence follows our goals to provide residents with a positive, safe and secure living environment,” Dibblee said.
Dibblee said that students will have three separate opportunities to get vaccinated in September and October from a PHSD mobile vaccine bus.
Residence guests, with the exception of their two guests during their move-in appointment, are still prohibited “until at least September 30.”
Dibblee said that exceptions to this are “individuals accessing services on the ground floor of ‘student street’ during regular hours such as health services, parking office, etc or individuals who may require personal support services.”
More information is still to come in regards to non-residents accessing Quesada and Cravings located in Single Student Residence (SSR).
“The guest policy will be revisited weekly throughout the fall term and residents will receive communication when non-resident guests will be permitted.”
Laurentian is in the first five Ontario post-secondary institutions to announce mandatory vaccination for varsity students and students living in residence, along with Western University, University of Toronto, University of Ottawa, and Seneca College.