With the post-secondary school year not that far off, several colleges in Canada and in the U.S. have announced mandatory COVID vaccination policies for students, especially for those wanting to live in residence. There reportedly are now well over 500 colleges and universities in the U.S. which are requiring vaccinations to come on campus in the fall, including the entire New York and California public systems. Although these currently represent only about 10 percent of American colleges and universities, the numbers apparently continue to grow. Here in Canada, with some exceptions, mandatory vaccination requirements for students have been slow to emerge. For example, University of Toronto students living in dorms this fall will be required to be vaccinated. Those moving into residence at Western University will be required to receive at least a first dose. However, most Canadian colleges and universities only tend to strongly encourage all community members to get vaccinated as soon as they become eligible.
Cara Zwibel, director of the fundamental freedoms program at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, views that such mandatory vaccination policies undermine the idea that vaccination is a choice. Yet, Ontario schools require children and teens to be immunized against designated childhood diseases, unless they have a valid exemption. Indeed, when it comes to introducing vaccination and medical mask requirements in workplaces, the province of Quebec leads the way in Canada. A passport-based approach, which is still rare in Canada, will take effect this September in Quebec which will allow only fully vaccinated people to access non-essential places such as bars and gyms. Last April, Quebec’s workplace health and safety board required that medical masks be worn at all times indoors in workplaces. As well, additional restrictions have been placed on visitors to long-term senior residences for persons who are not fully vaccinated. Most long-term care employers are now requiring employees to be fully vaccinated with few exceptions. Otherwise, the non-vaccinated employees will face continuous COVID testing protocols and additional personal protective equipment requirements.
Mandatory COVID vaccination and masking requirements will continue to raise the eyebrows of civil liberties groups, arguing that vaccination and masking should be a choice. However, health and safety specialists will counter by arguing that, by the very nature of the coronavirus and how it quickly spreads, there are situations where congregate living situations (residences) and shared common spaces make it challenging to isolate or quarantine should someone become infected. From various surveys, it would appear that otherwise healthy young people taking a more vaccine-hesitant stance is not about an infringement on their civil liberties, but more about complacency. As a society, we place all kinds of requirements on our citizens to protect the overall health and safety of our communities, especially in workplaces. Under certain circumstances, it would appear that mandatory COVID vaccination requirements to safeguard oneself and others from the spread of this dangerous virus make sense. The continuing reluctance of the majority of institutions to not introduce these requirements and to take a wait and see approach is inviting future outbreaks and possible lockdowns in both countries.
FROLITICKS 
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