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Vaccinations

As of May 1, 2022, the university’s vaccination policy is suspended

The university continues to monitor the impact of COVID-19 in our city and province, and will be nimble in responding to changes, and in planning for the future. The university may need to reinstate requirements for vaccinations should public health indicators change.

As a primary health and safety  measure, the university continues to encourage all who are able to be vaccinated to do so and to remain up-to-date with current COVID-19 vaccinations in the event that COVID 19 Vaccination Policy is reinstated.

All community members are encouraged to keep COVID-19 vaccinations current, per public health guidelines

The university remains committed to the health and safety of our community. Each of us has an important role to play in keeping our campus safe. We encourage all community members to be fully vaccinated, including the booster shot(s) as recommended by public health, to stay home if you are ill, wear a mask while on campus, and to practice good hand and respiratory hygiene.

Visit the Vaccinations at TMU webpage to learn more and find out when vaccination clinics are available on campus . Employees and students who would like to discuss vaccine eligibility should book an appointment with one of the Medical Centre physicians through the Student Wellbeing page. Additionally, you may review the Government of Ontario How to book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment. (external link) 

COVID-19 Vaccination FAQ

TMU’s vaccination policy

As of May 1, 2022, TMU’s COVID-19 Vaccination Policy has been suspended. However, the university continues to monitor the impact of COVID-19 in the city and province and may need to reinstate requirements for vaccinations should public health indicators change.

Prior to its suspension, the vaccination policy came into effect on September 7, 2021 in response to a binding recommendation  from the  (PDF file) Council of Ontario Medical Officers of Health  (external link)  and instructions from Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health that required all post-secondary institutions to have mandatory vaccination policies. Under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, the University was required to comply with the recommendations and instructions from public health officials and, accordingly, implemented its COVID-19 Vaccination Policy.

The policy required that individuals accessing campus were required to be fully vaccinated or have received an approved exemption from the university by October 18, 2021. Individuals who were exempt were required to participate in the Rapid Antigen Testing Program.

You are considered fully vaccinated in Ontario if you have received:

  • the full primary series of a COVID‑19 vaccine authorized by Health Canada, or any combination of such vaccines (2 doses of Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, Novavax, Medicago, AstraZeneca, including COVISHIELD) in any combination or 1 dose of Janssen (Johnson & Johnson); or
  • 3 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine or 2 doses of the Moderna vaccine for infants and children aged 6 months to 4 years or
  • a non-Health Canada authorized vaccine series corresponding to the schedule listed on the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 Vaccine Emergency Use Listing

Individuals should receive all recommended doses (including booster doses) to stay up to date with their COVID 19 vaccines. Visit the booster dose recommendation tool (external link)  to see when you are recommended to receive your next booster dose.

If reinstated, the vaccination policy applies to any physical indoor space or outdoor grounds that are owned, leased, licensed, operated, or otherwise occupied by Toronto Metropolitan University. Different requirements may apply to premises leased or licensed to external parties for their exclusive use by the university.

You can find your closest vaccination clinic, primary care clinic or pharmacy offering vaccines on the province’s central vaccine booking site. (external link) 

The two closest vaccination clinics to campus are the Regent Park Community Health Centre COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic (external link)  and Sherbourne Health COVID Vaccine Clinic (external link) .

Proof of Vaccination 

Do I still need to upload my proof of vaccination?

As a primary health and safety  measure, the university continues to encourage all who are able to be vaccinated to do so, however community members are no longer requested to submit their proof of vaccination and the TMU Safe App is no longer accepting vaccine proof of vaccination.

General questions about COVID-19 vaccines

Immunization is a step that most individuals can take to protect themselves and others.  The university encourages everyone who can be vaccinated to do so, and to stay up to date on any vaccines and boosters recommended by public health.

We understand that many of our community members might be nervous about the COVID-19 vaccines and some might even be experiencing information overload.

All vaccines approved by Health Canada provide strong protection against COVID-19 and its variants. The available vaccines were approved after independent and thorough scientific reviews for safety, efficacy and quality. 

COVID-19 vaccines work by training our body’s immune system to recognize and fight the virus. The vaccine uses certain molecules or parts of the virus called antigens which trigger an immune response when they are introduced into the body through vaccination.

A mixed mRNA model – mixing Pfizer and Moderna for first and second doses – has been approved by both the federal and provincial governments. Toronto Public Health is encouraging people to get whichever vaccine is easiest or fastest for them to access. 

As of June 17, 2021, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (external link)  (NACI) recommends that an mRNA (Pfizer or Moderna) vaccine is now preferred as the second dose for people who received a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine. If you received a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, you can choose to either receive a second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, or an mRNA (Pfizer or Moderna) vaccine for your second dose.

For the latest information on safely mixing vaccines, please visit the Toronto Public Health website (external link) .

Key Policy Dates

Date

Policy step

Sunday, May 1, 2022

Effective date of the suspension of the COVID-19 Vaccination Policy.

  • Community members accessing campus during the Spring/Summer semester must update their vaccination status via the TMU Safe app by May 1, 2022, if they have not yet done so. 
  • Students who have not been able to register for classes with in-person requirements will now be able to do so. 

Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Students who remain non-compliant (either through not attesting to their status, or remaining not fully vaccinated), will be removed from any in-person winter courses, and may lose access to key TMU systems.

Sunday, November 21, 2021

Students who have not provided their vaccination status in the TMU Safe app by 11:59 p.m. on this date will not receive their winter timetables.

Monday, November 1, 2021

Deadline for all community members to submit their vaccination status or apply for an exemption.  

Monday, October 18, 2021

Individuals must be fully vaccinated in order to access campus or in-person activities, unless an exemption is granted by the university. Individuals who receive an exemption are still required to participate in the Rapid Antigen Testing Program.

As of this date, individuals who are not fully vaccinated and have not been granted an exemption will no longer be allowed to access campus.

Monday, September 20, 2021

Individuals attending campus in the fall semester must have submitted their vaccine status in TMU Safe, including proof if they are fully vaccinated. Individuals applying for an exemption must have submitted their request. Only individuals who are still working towards becoming fully vaccinated or those who have applied for an exemption will be eligible for the Rapid Antigen Testing Program to access campus.

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

Community members may begin to submit proof of vaccination via the TMU Safe app to indicate:

  • I am fully vaccinated. This requires uploading proof of vaccination. Individuals receive a green badge with an “Approved” status upon completion.
  • I am not fully vaccinated. Individuals receive a red badge with a “Not Approved” status and are directed to enrol in the Rapid Antigen Testing Program.
  • I intend to apply for an exemption. Individuals receive an orange badge with a “Not Complete” status and are directed to apply for an exemption.

Faculty and staff who submit their proof of vaccination are required to forward the TMU Safe proof of completion to their direct supervisors.

Tuesday, September 7, 2021

Effective date of the COVID-19 Vaccination Policy. Individuals accessing campus in the fall semester must be fully vaccinated or participate in the Rapid Antigen Testing Program.

Questions?

Topic Contact

TMU Safe technical support

support@apparmor.com

General questions about Vaccination Policy and its implementation

Students: ServiceHub

Staff: Please connect with your leader

Faculty and Contract Lecturers: Please connect with your Dean (faculty) or Chair/Director (contract lecturers)

Leaders: Contact your human resources partner