Western University, U of T to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for all students, staff

Western University and University of Toronto have announced they will both require all students, staff and faculty to show proof-of-vaccination in order to be on campus.

The three affiliate colleges at Western, Huron, Kings and Brescia, will have the same COVID-19 vaccine policy.

At both universities those without proof-of-vaccination will have to be tested for COVID-19 twice a week.

Western said in a statement, the decision was made after “careful consultation with public health partners and faculty experts in medicine, law and ethics.”

U of T’s special advisor for COVID-19 Salvatore Spadafora said public health evidence shows, “Vaccination provides the best protection from COVID-19.”

Western and U of T had previously mandated vaccines for students in residences.

It comes after Ottawa University also mandated COVID-19 vaccines for all who attend campus, including students, staff and faculty, earlier this week.

Seneca College became the first Ontario post-secondary school to make vaccines mandatory. 

Multiple other university and colleges in the province will require students living in residences to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

The Council of Ontario Universities and Colleges Ontario have both called for a province-wide policy that would require all students, staff and faculty to be vaccinated.