As recently announced by the province, Ontarians will need to provide proof of vaccination to access certain businesses and services from September 22 onward. You may already be aware that this can impact different spaces located on York’s campuses and you will be required to have proof of vaccination ready to show if and when it is requested. 

The University’s vaccine policy is integral to our ongoing commitment to health and safety. As a reminder, you are required to have received your second dose of a two-dose series or a complete one-dose series by October 5 in order to continue accessing York’s campuses from October 19 onward, including for the Winter Term. If you have not received a Health Canada-approved vaccine, please see this update for next steps. 

To ensure our continued alignment with this direction, all York University employees will be required to disclose their vaccination status through YU Screen by no later than October 5. Additionally, all students who will be accessing York campuses for any activity will be required to disclose their vaccination status by this date. 

Until October 18, if you are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated or seeking an exemption, you must participate in York’s Testing Program, with FAQs available here. All university community members can access free rapid testing (followed by a PCR test should the rapid test come back positive) up to two times per week. Testing is provided by registered clinicians and please note, you must pass YU screen before coming to clinics.  

If you are a guest or a visitor to York’s campuses, you must use YU Screen before coming to York’s campuses to confirm that you are not currently experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 and confirm your vaccination status before visiting. 

We appreciate your commitment to keeping our campuses safe this fall. Here is a reminder of key dates that relate to York’s vaccine policy: 

Key Dates 

• September 28-30: Vaccine clinics continue to run at the Aviva Centre on Keele campus. You do not need an appointment and will be required to show one piece of identification. 
• October 5: All York University employees and students who are accessing York’s campuses must disclose vaccination status through YU Screen.  
• October 19: All university community members must be fully vaccinated or have an approved exemption in order to access campuses for the Fall and Winter Terms. Those will an approved exemption will continue to participate in York’s COVID-19 Testing Program, with FAQs available here. 

Thank you for continuing to use YU Screen before coming to campus on the days you are scheduled to be present this fall. For the latest updates relating to health and safety with respect to the pandemic, please continue to visit the Better Together site. 

Sincerely, 

Parissa Safai 
Special Advisor to the President for Academic Continuity Planning and COVID-19 Response