Mount Saint Vincent University. (CREDIT: Google Maps)
Students heading to campus at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax this fall will need to be fully vaccinated.
The statement released by MSVU Interim Vice-President Ramona Lumpkin says all students, faculty, and staff must be double-vaxxed by October 13th at the latest.
The school will require proof of vaccination, but the exact protocols are still being worked out.
“We want to ensure that personal information is protected,” Lumpkin says. “As well, we have asked Public Health for guidance on whether those who have received vaccinations abroad that are not currently approved by Health Canada can or should be vaccinated with Health Canada approved vaccines upon arrival in the country.”
Anyone who is not vaccinated will have to undergo COVID-19 testing twice a week. Rapid testing will be available at the school.
The university will offer an on-campus vaccination clinic for students, faculty, and staff on Thursday, August 26 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Additional COVID-19 safety measures will remain in place including reduced class sizes, enhanced cleaning protocols, improved ventilation, and mask use in common areas.
Lumpkin says the move is being made because the evidence shows getting vaccinated against COVID-19 helps to protect everyone and is the surest way out of the pandemic.
Meantime, Dalhousie University has not made full vaccination a requirement, but it’s strongly encouraging students and staff have both shots.
The University of King’s College has released details of surveys it conducted, which show nearly 100 per cent of students in residence will be fully vaccinated this fall.
“Close to 100% of faculty, staff and students are or plan to be fully vaccinated at, or soon after, the beginning of the coming term,” King’s says in the latest COVID-19 update on its website.
The school adds it’s confident in the results because the response rate was high.
Saint Mary’s University is making it mandatory for some including varsity athletes, students in club sports, coaches as well as staff in the Department of Athletics and Recreation, and people living in residence. It may extend the mandate to other groups.
Vaccines are not mandatory at NSCAD, but they’re expected. The college says it’s prepared to act if second dose rates do not meet provincial targets.
Cape Breton University is requiring all students living in residence to be fully immunized.
