Faculty at U of C calling for mandatory COVID-19 vaccines on campus
Some professors at the University of Calgary want the post secondary to make COVID-19 vaccines a requirement as students return to campus in person in September.
Last week, economics professor Aidan Hollis posted an open letter on Twitter directed at the president of the University of Calgary saying mandatory vaccines would make campus safer for everyone.
The letter is receiving support from other members of faculty especially with the provinces recent' announcement that COVID-19 isolation requirements and routine testing are ending this month.
“I think we would all feel more secure if we knew that the students in our classrooms are vaccinated,” said Lisa Young, professor, school of public policy. “It’s really important to me that students in my classroom feel safe in all kinds of ways.”
Young said she plans to have a note outside her office informing students she is fully vaccinated and fully vaccinated students are welcome. If not, they have to wear masks, or have conversations over the phone or Zoom.
“A lot of what we’re going to have to do in the fall is to rely on everybody’s good will and willingness to keep one another safe and keep one another feeling safe.”
The University of Calgary said it supports vaccinations and will offer medical information on campus to address vaccine hesitancy, but it's not a requirement.
“In Alberta, it is not currently possible to require vaccines to attend university or insist on knowing vaccine status of individuals. However, we emphatically support the value of vaccines and the importance of vaccination,” said Ed McCauley, president and vice-chancellor, University of Calgary.
The school said it has a task force developing a preparedness plan for the fall term if a new wave were to materialize.
The province said it encourages all eligible Albertans to get their first and second doses.
“That being said, we respect the right of individuals to choose to get the vaccine and will not be requiring post-secondary institutions in Alberta to mandate vaccinations on campus,” said Taylor Hides, press secretary, office of the minister of advanced education.
Some faculty members say they are waiting for the U of C to release its safety plan.
“I think people are really looking to the universities to come up with a plan to protect everyone in the fall given that the province will be withdrawing most of their public health measures,” said Lorian Hardcastle, who's an associate professor at the faculty of law and Cumming School of Medicine.
Hardcastle said she supports having some public health measures and says vaccinations may be easiest path instead of trying to enforce masks or changing course schedules to allow for distancing.
But she said the legality around mandating vaccines is complicated.
“Under provincial human rights law, the university has the obligation to accommodate people who can’t get vaccinated due to medical reasons.”
Hardcastle said its unfortunate the province didn’t give post secondary institutions more time to work through issues and come up with their own safety plans with the start of school a month away.
Currently one post-secondary school in Canada, Seneca College in Toronto, requires vaccines for students.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
BREAKING Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife’s edge.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man books $7,700 luxury villa on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he was charged more than $7,700 to book a luxury villa on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.