Alberta schools can’t require proof of COVID-19 vaccinations

At the same time, schools will not have the authority to force students to provide proof that they have been given COVID-19 vaccines.

A statement from the Ministry of Advanced Education states that “We respect the right of individuals to choose to get the vaccine and will not be requiring post-secondary institutions in Alberta to mandate vaccinations on campus. There is also no mechanism that would allow institutions to require students to be vaccinated for in-person attendance on campus.”

Officials with Lethbridge College told LNN that they will not make mask-wearing or social distancing mandatory.

The University of Lethbridge previously stated that masks and distancing will be a requirement in some situations, but strongly recommended in all others.

Schools in the Pre-K to Grade 12 system will have the same rules for vaccinations.

The Press Secretary for the Ministry of Education says, “In accordance with Alberta’s privacy legislation, the Personal Information Protection Act and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, school staff must respect the health privacy of students, including their vaccination status.”

The Lethbridge School Division notes that only Albertans aged 12 years and up are eligible to be vaccinated. A portion of their 2021-2022 School Year Plan reads, “At this time, it is not known exactly when younger school age children (Kindergarten to Grade 6) will be eligible to receive the vaccine, therefore additional health measures may be recommended for this age group.”

It is expected that isolation and quarantine requirements, as well as contact tracing, will continue to evolve for younger students as immunization rates continue to rise.

As of the end of July 27, 75.6 per cent of eligible Albertans have been vaccinated with at least one dose while 64.3 per cent are fully immunized.

by David Opinko

Alberta schools can’t require proof of COVID-19 vaccinations

What's Happening