Brandon University announced Thursday that they would require COVID-19 vaccinations to be on campus after October 31st, aligning them with the U of M, U of W, CMU and RRC, who have all announced that they would be mandating vaccines and masks.
The post-secondary school understands that not everyone has been able to get immunized, so they, along with Prairie Mountain Health, have decided to offer on-campus vaccines when school starts this fall.
Media Director for the University, Grant Hamilton, talks about BU’s decision to offer vaccines on campus,
“We’re really happy to be partnering with PMH to make getting the vaccine as easy and convenient for everyone as possible. We are offering three walk-in vaccine clinics right on campus during the first week of class. So one of them will be on our orientation day, which is Tuesday, September 7th, and then we are also offering it on Wednesday and Thursday that same week. So really, there should be multiple opportunities for people to come by and get their first or second shot its walks-ins, its Pfizer, its Moderna. So lots of opportunities and couldn’t be more convenient.”
Mr. Hamilton says that the university is asking their faculty to be lenient with students who need time to get the vaccine or who might end up with side effects the next day. Noting that these on-campus clinics take place during the first week of classes, so students taking a little bit of time away from class should be achievable.
“We’re also offering paid time off for any BU employee who needs to go and attend the vaccine, and of course, they can draw on sick time for any side effects or anything like that.”
In closing, BU’s Media Director preached a safe return to everyday life,
“Vaccines are the fastest for all of us to get back to normal; we all sure miss the energy of a bustling campus and the big classes. Anyone who has fond memories of their time at university or college, I mean it’s the people you meet there and the relationships you develop. You can certainly do that on zoom, but it’s not the same, so I encourage everyone to get their vaccines as quickly as they can and let’s get back to normal.”
Students will return to campus for the fall term starting on September 7th.
