Important deadlines for vaccine verification and rapid testing program

Sent on behalf of Annalise Van Ham, Vice-President, Finance and Administration

Wednesday, September 29 at 5 p.m.

This email clarifies Mount Royals vaccination verification and rapid testing deadlines. Please read the contents carefully, as important dates that affect you are approaching.

If you are partially or fully vaccinated:

Verify your vaccine status as soon as possible

To comply with the provincial government’s proof of vaccination requirements, and to continue to be allowed to access campus in person, you* must upload your proof of partial or fully vaccination through the MRU Now safety app no later than Oct. 4.  Don’t wait until this deadline to submit proof, as your submission requires review. Read more about downloading and using this app.

If you still require your second dose:

Your deadline to be fully immunized is Nov. 1, 2021

In accordance with public health orders, MRU requires all employees, students and visitors to campus to be fully vaccinated no later than Nov. 1, 2021. This means you:

  • have received a second dose of a World Health Organization (WHO)-approved COVID-19 vaccine, plus two weeks, to be considered immunized.

To meet this deadline, you must receive your second dose no later than Oct. 18, 2021. Those who do not meet this requirement will be placed in the rapid testing program.

Note that those who have tested positive for COVID-19 and are unvaccinated are not considered immunized as per the Chief Medical Officer of Health.

If you are participating in the rapid testing program:

MRU’s rapid testing program ends Jan.1, 2022

Due to the nature of the pandemic in Alberta, rapid testing will no longer be an option for employees or students after Jan.1, 2022,. For those participating in the rapid testing program, MRU will no longer provide free rapid testing as of Nov. 1*, 2021. Those in the rapid testing program will be able to purchase rapid tests on campus in G100 at their own cost until the end of the fall semester.

Reminders:

  • If you are unvaccinated, or have not declared or have refused to declare your vaccination status, you are required to participate in the rapid testing program, providing proof of a negative test results every Sunday and Wednesday evening. If you do not complete your test, you may not attend campus. Also, if you do not complete your test as required, you will be placed on an unpaid leave.
  • Follow all health measures affecting campus and wear a mask at all times, with limited exceptions like eating in designated areas.
  • Stay home if you are unwell.
  • Socially distance by two metres except while in a learning environment, including but not limited to classrooms, lecture halls, research facilities and laboratories.

Compliance

In addition to internal controls for vaccination verification and rapid testing occurring daily, MRU is adding additional on-campus checkpoints for verification at the time of service or upon building entry. The Riddell Library and Learning Centre (RLLC), Cougars Campus Store, Recreation and food service locations are examples of these checkpoints.

Looking forward

I am thankful that the overwhelming majority of our community is vaccinated and thank you to all those who’ve already submitted your vaccination proof to MRU Now. Certainly, this is a challenging time in our history, but I remain optimistic because of your continued cooperation and commitment to the MRU community.

*Employees who are unable to be vaccinated due to a medical exemption will need to submit a workplace accommodation request form and provide supporting medical documentation to Wellness at Work. Those with approved exemptions are required to participate in the rapid testing program and will continue to access free rapid testing kits from MRU.