Saskatchewan Universities mandates COVID-19 vaccination: What you need to know

Picture Courtesy: The Globe and Mail

As schools and universities are opening across North America, more and more institutions are putting in COVID vaccination mandates. Going the growing list are the two universities in Saskatchewan which have put in a mandate requiring staff and students to be vaccinated for COVID-19.

The University of Saskatchewan put out a press release today asking whoever is planning to access the university campus must provide proof of a first vaccination by Sept. 7 and a second dose by Oct. 18. If anyone is unable to do so, then they would have to provide frequent negative COVID-19 test results and submit a daily symptom checklist.

The other institution is The University of Regina, which is asking its faculty, staff, and students to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 1. The university says that it will provide the details of exemptions in the coming days, which will align with the guidelines issued by Saskatchewan Human Rights Code.

The University president Jeff Keshen said, "The University of Regina is confident that, in mandating vaccines, we can reduce the transmission of COVID-19 on our campuses and in our communities.”

Canada has also mandated COVID vaccines for all federal workers by fall. Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs said, “We expect the federal public service to want to comply with this mandatory requirement, this is the best way to end the pandemic and allow the economy to safely remain open.”