by: jacquie miller
carleton university will require students playing varsity or competitive club sports, taking music classes or living in residences at the campus to be fully vaccinated.
all students and staff will also have to self-declare their vaccination status, the university announced thursday.
several other ontario post-secondary institutions have made similar moves as campuses prepare to open for more in-person classes this fall.
public health officials have warned of a possible fourth pandemic wave of covid-19 fuelled by the contagious delta variant when students return to school and more people head indoors.
carleton officials said they made changes based on advice from ottawa public health.
on thursday, the same advice from medical officer of health dr. vera etches was sent to other post-secondary institutions, oph said in a statement.
“ottawa public health strongly recommends that post-secondary institutions have policies that require proof of full covid-19 vaccination (or evidence of a bona fide medical exemption to covid-19 vaccination) for all individuals, including both students and staff, attending in-person activities on campus.
“if this documentation cannot be provided, individuals should be supported to have a conversation about the covid-19 vaccine and where to access it with a medical professional.