Sheridan College requiring COVID-19 vaccines for athletes, students in residence in Mississauga, Brampton and Oakville
Published August 4, 2021 at 9:21 pm
Sheridan College has added a vaccination requirement for students who plan to live in residence and/or play varsity sports this fall.
The college, which has campuses in Oakville, Mississauga and Brampton, made the announcement on Wednesday (Aug. 4).
Students who plan to live in residence must show that they have received at least one dose of a Health Canada-approved COVID-19 vaccine two weeks prior to moving in. Partially-vaccinated students will need to ensure they receive their second vaccine by no later than Sept. 17.
A similar protocol will be in place for athletes and will be communicated to these students directly. Exemptions will be made for medical or religious reasons.
“Sheridan is mandating vaccines for students living in residences and participating in varsity sports to ensure we continue to protect the well-being of our community, particularly in settings where physical distancing may be more difficult,” Wayne Steffler, vice-president of finance and administration, states. “We are confident that this requirement will support the call from our public health partners for high rates of vaccination among postsecondary students, and contribute to a richer on-campus experience for our students overall.”
The requirement is based on guidance from Peel Public Health and Halton Public Health, who have emphasized that high two-dose vaccination coverage among students will be necessary to prevent local outbreaks in the upcoming academic year and hopefully to allow for more opportunities for in-person activities and connection. This is particularly true in high-density settings with common spaces such as residences.
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Between the Brampton and Oakville campus, Sheridan has residence space for about 1,174 students. It has about 23,000 full-time students and 35,000 part-time.
A recent survey of Sheridan students indicated that 90 per cent plan to be vaccinated by fall, the college says.
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