VAccine Information

Who must be vaccinated to visit, work or study on a UCN campus?

All students, faculty, staff, and visitors must be vaccinated if they intend to be physically present at a University College of the North (UCN) facility.

When does the vaccination requirement take affect?

November 1, 2021.

Why is full vaccination required to enter a UCN facility?

Our goal is to create the safest environment for our students, staff and faculty. The delta variant is changing things. This pandemic is quickly becoming one of the unvaccinated. We want to make sure as many people as possible, particularly those under 12 who may not yet be able to get vaccinated, are protected. This is a step we can take to help make this happen. It will also allow us to return to as much in-person activity as we can, as quickly and safely as we can. 

What does fully vaccinated mean?

In general, people are considered fully vaccinated:

• 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
• 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson's Janssen vaccine

If you have received 1 dose of a 2-dose series, you're considered partially vaccinated.

Once you are fully vaccinated, you need to claim your QR code so that you can demonstrate that you have been fully vaccinated. You can claim your digital immunization card (and order a physical immunization card) at https://protectmb.ca/immunization-card/. 

Where can I go to get fully vaccinated?

The Manitoba COVID-19 Vaccine Shot Finder is an online service where the public can search for locations that offer the COVID-19 vaccine in their area. For more information, visit the website. https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/vaccine/finder.html

What is UCN doing / what will UCN do should the Delta variant lead to increases in cases? 

Public Health has said that it expects that the fourth wave, which we understand is already here, may be severe. Cases are expected to rise along with hospitalizations and renewed pressure on ICU beds. Public Health advises the severity of the illness often depends on a person's vaccination status. If you are vaccinated, you are much less likely to become sick. The vast majority of hospitalizations and deaths are among the unvaccinated. 

UCN is maintaining its COVID protocols: 

The three W's are the best thing we can do on a day-to-day basis (wash your hands with soap for 20 seconds; wear a face covering; watch your distances)

• Get vaccinated. Our vaccine mandate is not random. We are taking steps to protect our community, and in particular those who are more vulnerable, including the medically compromised, the elderly, and perhaps most importantly, children under 12 for whom vaccination is not yet an option. 
• We are also maintaining our policy regarding working from home. More staff have been recalled to campus, but that is because more students will be on campus. The environment has changed, and UCN's staffing presence requirements on site have also changed. 
• We continue to follow the guidance of Public Health - which has been changing on a weekly basis in response to the Delta variant. UCN will continue to monitor the situation and make changes to our COVID protocols. The goal is to help ensure that everyone is safe, healthy and can stay engaged in the work of education in the north.

If I have a medical reason for not getting vaccinated, what should I do?

The most recent Manitoba Public Health Order that mandates vaccines for different groups was developed with input from medical experts in various medical specialties including oncology, allergy, immunology, transplant medicine, neurology, obstetrics, etc., to ensure the policy is fair to all, including those with medical concerns about vaccination.

Expert opinion was provided, based on existing and evolving evidence and clinical practice, about whether there are patient populations that cannot be immunized for medical reasons. It was determined that medical exemptions are not warranted for the COVID-19 vaccine. There are specific situations, however, where vaccination may be delayed, typically no longer than three months. Please connect with your health care provider for more information.

Can I refuse to be vaccinated for religious reasons?

UCN is working with legal counsel to better understand which circumstances religious objections constitute a valid reason to refuse vaccination. More details will follow in the weeks to come. 

Can I refuse based on my Indigenous spiritual beliefs?

UCN's Council of Elders have been consulted and will soon release information related to this question.