A recent email from Laurentian University confirms that, barring changes to public health guidelines, the school has no intention of reinstating its vaccine mandate in the fall.
“With less than a month before our next academic year begins, our campus community is preparing to welcome back our students,” reads an email from Laurentian University. “Part of that planning includes thinking about how COVID-19 may continue to impact our campus safety.”
“Laurentian’s Policy on COVID-19 Vaccination remains paused, and we do not intend to reinstate the policy for the Fall term unless directives from public health authorities change.”
Laurentian University also says that its mask mandate will remain paused. However, the University is in talks to decide whether or not to reverse course in September. Their final decision will come on August 26.
This is the complete opposite position of the University of Toronto, which on July 28 announced that not only will the vaccine mandate be coming back, but U of T has mandated boosters for all students living in residence this fall.
In response to the mandate, The Democracy Fund’s legal team is now representing students affected by the mandate, arguing that it will be all but impossible for unvaccinated students to find alternative housing with such short notice in the bustling city.
As for whether public health guidelines will change — and with them Laurentian University’s vaccine policies — so far, it looks like Ontario will remain free of mandates.
Earlier this month, the Ontario Education Ministry announced that masks are no longer necessary in schools.
Moreover, while expanding second booster eligibility in July, Ontario Chief Medical Officer Kieran Moore admitted that not everyone, specifically university-aged young people, should get the vaccine because of an increased risk of side effects like myocarditis.
Having admitted a real risk from the vaccine, it would be hard to walk back this statement and coerce young people into getting a vaccine with an undue risk of heart-related injuries.
