Mandatory Vaccines for School Board Employees

Mandatory Vaccines for School Board Employees
Posted on 09/02/2021
Mandatory Vaccines for School Board Employees

The health and safety of the OCDSB staff and students has guided planning decisions for the return to school. Health authorities continue to advise that being fully vaccinated significantly reduces the risks of the most serious outcomes of COVID-19.  

The Board of Trustees has mandated that all OCDSB employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This decision is in addition to the provincial direction to establish a mandatory vaccine disclosure policy.

Why did the OCDSB adopt a mandatory vaccine policy for employees?

The health and safety of all of our employees and students is our highest priority. Ensuring that employees are vaccinated is our best strategy to minimize the impacts of the Delta variant and of the fourth wave on our schools and operations.

Employee attestation and proof of vaccination

Not later than September 7, 2021, all employees will be asked to affirm whether they are:

  • Fully vaccinated
  • Partially vaccinated
  • Not vaccinated

Employees will be required to provide proof of vaccination.

Duty to accommodate

The District recognizes its responsibilities under the Ontario Human Rights Code and its obligations under collective agreements. The District will make all reasonable efforts to accommodate employees with approved medical, religious or creed-based reasons for not getting vaccinated.

Individuals who are not vaccinated

Employees who are not vaccinated must indicate one of the following reasons:

  • Due to medical reason(s) - a completed medical exemption form will be required;
  • Due to religion or creed - a completed religious or creed exemption form will be required;
  • Due to personal choice - these employees will be required to obtain a first dose of the vaccine by September 30th, 2021.

Employees not vaccinated due to medical reasons or religious or creed reason

Employees with an approved medical, religious or creed based accommodation will be required to undergo regular COVID-19 testing and may be required to attend a vaccine education program.

Employees Not Vaccinated Due to Personal Choice

Employees who are not vaccinated due to personal choice will be required to participate in a vaccine education program and undergo regular testing. These individuals will be required to have a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on or before 30 September 2021 and a second dose  as soon as medically allowed and available. Employees who are not vaccinated and who do not initiate the vaccine process by September 30th will be subject to additional employment conditions/restrictions which may include being placed on a Leave Without Pay. 

Access to Vaccines

The City of Ottawa and Ottawa Public Health are currently hosting Neighbourhood Vaccination Hubs in various communities across the city. These clinics are open to all eligible OCDSB staff and students (born in 2009 or earlier), along with their family members, to receive their first or second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Staff at these sites will be able to answer any questions or concerns related to vaccinations. To check eligibility or for more information, please visit the OPH Vaccination webpage. 

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