There will be no mandatory COVID vaccines for either staff or students in schools across Ontario this fall.
Education Minister Stephen Lecce says while it’s strongly encouraged that everyone who is eligible should protect themselves against the virus, it remains a personal choice.
“We’ll respect the choices individuals will make, but at the same time we can be strong advocates for vaccines as a safe way to reduce risk and allow for a more normal return to class and to be frank, a normal September and fall and beyond.”
Other childhood immunizations for diseases like polio, chicken pox, measles, and whooping cough are mandatory for all children who attend primary or secondary school, unless they have a valid exemption for medical or religious reasons.
Similar to flu shots, COVID vaccines are encouraged but not mandated.
“Our guidance requires school boards to work in partnership with public health units to do so for vaccines for COVID-19 for those children 12 and up, for their parents, families, and staff, in addition to missing vaccines, perhaps non-COVID-related vaccines that may have been missed over the past year, really trying to ensure that kids are as safe as possible for September.”
On Thursday, the province announced $25-million to purchase standalone HEPA filter units, now required in all classrooms in schools that don’t have mechanical ventilation to help improve air quality in schools across the province.
