TDSB Announces Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccine Policy for Trustees and Employees – Toronto | The Canadian News

The Toronto District School Board has announced that it will require that trustees, its more than 40,000 employees, and anyone who comes into direct contact with students and staff be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

In a statement issued Tuesday night, it said that before November 1, affected people will need to show proof of complete vaccination unless they have an approved exemption under the human rights code.

“Requests for exemptions and reasonable accommodations related to a medical condition / disability or religion / belief under [the code] It will be considered. However, due to the serious health threat that COVID-19 poses to the public, this duty to adapt will be balanced with the board’s obligations to protect the health and safety of employees and students, ”the announcement said. .

The move came nearly three weeks after the trustees voted unanimously in favor of creating a mandatory vaccination policy.

For those who are not vaccinated or those who have not disclosed their vaccination status, they will be asked to provide proof of rapid antigen negative tests twice a week.

Additionally, those who do not have a medical or disability-related exemption will be required to attend an educational session on COVID-19 vaccines.

“While we recognize that the decision to get vaccinated is deeply personal, we have strived to balance acknowledging that fact with doing everything we can to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff, while allowing a period of time for staff who have not yet done so. got a vaccine to do it, “TDSB Education Director Colleen Russell-Rawlins said in the statement.

Officials said that of the 94 percent of employees who responded to disclosure requests as required by the Ontario Ministry of Education, 83 percent reported being vaccinated.

Since classes resumed in Toronto earlier in the month, public health personnel reported that nearly two dozen investigations of COVID-19 cases have been conducted.

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