Carleton University in Ottawa has updated its COVID-19 vaccination policy to require any student living on campus or participating in “higher risk” activities to be fully vaccinated before the fall.
The shift, which the post-secondary institution announced in a series of tweets Thursday afternoon, aligns the school closer with the University of Ottawa in terms of vaccine expectations for students.
Students living in residences, participating in music instruction and playing on varsity or competitive sports teams must have received a “full course” of a COVID-19 vaccine approved by Health Canada or the World Health Organization. Additional activities deemed to be “higher risk” of transmitting the virus could be added at a later date.
First shots must be received by Sept. 10, while second doses must be administered no later than Oct. 15.
Exemptions are available for those who cannot receive a vaccine on medical or other grounds.
Carleton cited recent recommendations from Ottawa Public Health as an impetus for the updated policy.
Under the change, everyone in the Carleton community — students, staff and faculty alike — must also “self-declare” their vaccination status.
A “yes” declaration means someone is 14 days after their second shot. Those who answer “no” or “prefer not to say” will be given literature about the benefits of vaccination, according to Suzanne Blanchard, Carleton’s COVID-19 lead.
Masking and physical distancing requirements will remain in place when Carleton welcomes students back for the fall term starting Aug. 23.
Carleton, which had previously said it would not mandate vaccinations but strongly encouraged community members to get the shot, joins uOttawa in mandating vaccinations for those in residence and students participating in campus sports.
Algonquin College also said in July it would encourage vaccinations but not mandate them.
Some post-secondary institutions in Ontario have drawn a harder line on vaccination, such as Seneca College in Toronto, which requires students and staff to be fully vaccinated before coming on campus in the fall.
Dr. Brent Moloughney, Ottawa’s associate medical officer of health, said in July that OPH would not set a rule for mandatory vaccinations at local universities, deferring to the province to set mandates around vaccine status requirements.
He said the local health unit would work with its university partners to promote vaccinations on campus when students return to the classroom in the fall.
Currently, the 18-29 demographic in Ottawa reports the lowest COVID-19 vaccination rates in the city, with 72 per cent having received at least an initial shot and 57 per cent double-dosed.