McGill’s Insufficient Vaccine Policies

Su, Edgar. “A medical worker prepares a syringe at a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination center in Singapore.” Reuters, 8 March, 2021. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/singapore-says-almost-80-population-be-fully-vaccinated-by-sept-2021-07-26/ 

The COVID-19 pandemic has touched every family and brought uncertainty, fear, unimaginable loss to households around the world. The pandemic has had universal effects which have restructured the way in which we go about our daily lives. However, it has also demonstrated the imperative of being able to adjust and adapt, remaining willing to make sacrifices to ensure the safety of ourselves and those most vulnerable around us. 

As of September 15, 2021, the Province of Quebec introduced a mandatory vaccine passport system which bars un-vaccinated individuals from a variety of non-essential activities. Among other things, these activities include going to bars and restaurants as well as attending sporting events. In essence, the vaccination passport system, available through an app appropriately named ‘VaxiCode’, incentivizes vaccinations in order to return to a ‘new-normal’ by otherwise withholding admittance to social spaces. Such a mandate has also been implemented in Ontario for similar purposes. 

As provinces begin to implement passport systems and strengthen vaccination policies, many post-secondary institutions have devised their own plans and procedures for ensuring the safety of their faculty and students. Some Canadian universities have adopted a ‘zero-tolerance’ policy for unvaccinated individuals. The University of Toronto has established a strong stance on vaccinations on their campuses, noting on their website that: “[t]he University of Toronto requires all those intending to be present on our three campuses, or on premises owned or operated by the university, to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination”(U of T, 2021). The University of Toronto’s vaccine strategy is reflective of their commitment to ensuring a safe environment for their students, faculty, and staff. Other Canadian universities and colleges are split, with institutions such as the University of Ottawa also mandating vaccines for those who wish to be on campus and others seeming more reluctant to implement such stringent policies. 

McGill University, one of the foremost universities in Canada according to a recent Maclean’s ranking, is trailing behind other Canadian higher-ed institutions due to its inadequate vaccination policies. Though McGill has implemented certain measures, such as requiring masks while indoors on campus and social distancing in environments outside the classroom, these strategies do not seem entirely sufficient to reduce transmission rates and fully protect members of the McGill community--especially while permitting classes where required attendance and participation are a graded component. 

McGill has required proof of vaccination in accordance with provincial regulations and guidelines when dining in residence halls to eat or participating in certain other recreational and extracurricular activities on campus. Additionally, effective late October, McGill has implemented a proof-of-vaccination system for use of the library and communal spaces, as posted on their website. However, vaccine passport requirements in cafeterias and library spaces are functionally futile if there are no measures in place to ensure the safety of those attending large lectures--spaces usually occupied by students sitting arm-to-arm. If McGill is unwilling and unprepared to mandate a proof of vaccination system for any and all campus activities, as many other Canadian universities have already set a precedent for, they should be willing to implement other policies geared towards ensuring the safety of the McGill community. For example, lecture halls should be arranged so as to respect social distancing measures, as suggested by provincial and federal health officials.

If McGill insists on maintaining a more neutral stance in regards to the implementation of stringent policies and procedures relating to COVID-19 vaccinations, the university should not permit professors to require attendance during in-person classes. For many students and faculty alike, returning to campus has been uncertain, scary, and challenging. While McGill notes on its website: “accommodations are available for vulnerable students and employees with appropriate medical documentation,” they have failed to recognize that this transition has been difficult for many students and have failed to implement adequate policies to ensure the comfort of the community throughout this transition. For example, an ‘opt-out’ policy could be implemented, ensuring that students who do not feel comfortable sitting extremely close to other individuals can choose to refrain from doing so. In the event that a class necessitates attendance, supplementary work or assignments could be made available as an alternate means to satisfy grade requirements. Though medical exemptions are important and necessary, there should be a ‘no questions asked’ policy which allows students who have classes which require attendance and participation to make up the grade in a substitutional format. 

Though cases and transmission rates on McGill campuses have not been high, the wellbeing of the entire McGill community has been overlooked by the implementation of these inadequate policies. The McGill community has been left feeling uncertain and fearful in an environment which should, in principle, be guaranteed as safe and comfortable for all. 

The transition from remote-learning to hybrid and in-person learning has been complex and McGill’s  entire community is currently navigating unprecedented circumstances. Unfortunately, the policies which have been implemented to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 are insufficient. If McGill University is vehemently opposed to mandating a proof of vaccination policy, they have an obligation to consider alternative options and procedures which may be better suited to protect the members of the community.