University of Guelph mandates COVID-19 vaccines for everyone on campus

KITCHENER — Students and staff attending the University of Guelph this year will need to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

An update on the university's website said the mandate will be in place for the 2021-22 school year.

The mandate includes faculty, staff and students at the Guelph and Ridgetown campuses and indoors at all U of G-managed field stations.

The U of G said the decision was made in conjunction with Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph and Chatham-Kent Public Health.

"We know that being fully vaccinated significantly reduces the risks of the most serious outcomes of COVID-19. To date, this has also been true for the variants-of-concern," the update said in part.

Vaccines are available at Student Health Services.

Previously, the university said it would make vaccines mandatory for anyone living in residence and varsity athletes.