‘Only the beginning’: Hundreds protest Western University vaccine mandate

A student organizer behind Saturday’s protest against Western University’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate says the demonstration is “only the beginning” in the push to overturn the controversial policy.

Hundreds of people gathered on campus to hear speakers denounce the London, Ont., university’s decision to mandate at least three vaccine doses for staff, students and some visitors.

Organizer Kendra Hancock says she hopes the demonstration will lead to public negotiations and further student consultation over the university’s rules, which also include mandatory masking in classrooms.

Speakers included a former professor at Western-affiliated Huron University College, who says she refused to comply with the school’s previous vaccine mandate, as well as the Haldimand-Norfolk health unit’s acting chief medical officer of health who has been an outspoken critic of COVID-19 mandates.

Students carrying a banner reading “Enough is Enough” led a march around the university grounds as campus security looked on.

Just as the march neared its end, some demonstrators split from the organizers and briefly took over one lane of traffic for a block along Western Road before dispersing.

Western is the only post-secondary university in Canada that is mandating boosters for all students and staff on campus.

“This decision supports the safety of our students, employees and our community with the goal of preserving our in-person experience,” said Dr. Sonya Malone, Western’s occupational health physician.

“The last school year showed us that our campus community was on board with the masking and vaccination policy, which was the key to successfully completing the fall and winter terms in person.”

University officials said while they welcome peaceful protests on campus, they warned that groups not associated with the campus community would try to use the protest as a platform to “express their own grievances.”

“We are concerned that this event will be used for reasons other than what our students have planned, creating a risk of it becoming disruptive and potentially dangerous.”

Infectious diseases specialist Dr. Zain Chagla says the purpose of Western’s three-dose policy is unclear. He says requiring three doses may not do much to prevent COVID-19 transmission and warns it may exclude students from marginalized communities where booster dose uptake is lower.

RELATED: What are Ontario post-secondary schools’ COVID-19 policies ahead of fall semester

The University of Toronto and Trent University are requiring those living in residence to have three and two doses, respectively, and recommending all others on campus to keep their vaccinations up-to-date.

Most universities have not imposed vaccine mandates for the fall semester, and the province lifted proof-of-vaccination rules in public spaces months ago.

London is also hosting a Stanley Cup parade today with hometown hockey player Nazem Kadri.