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COVID-19 Vaccination Procedure - Visitors

  • Related Documents:  COVID-19 Vaccination PolicyFace Mask Policy, Face Mask Procedure
  • Owner:  General Counsel and Secretary of the Board of Governors and University Privacy Officer, Provost and Vice-President, Academic, Vice-President, Administration and Operations
  • Approval Dates:  October 2021
  • Next Review Date:  TBD

I.          Purpose

These procedures (the “Procedure”) assist in the interpretation and application of the University’s COVID-19 Vaccination Policy (the “Policy”) with respect to visitors to Ryerson University Premises, and establish the requirements and responsibility for the verification of a visitor’s Vaccination status.

II.         Application and Scope

These Procedures applies to all members of the public who are attending on Ryerson University Premises by invitation, whether directly or indirectly, of the University, who are not faculty, staff or student of the University, or a Contractor.  

For clarity, these Procedures does not apply to members of the public who are passing through, dropping off a delivery, placing or picking up an order, or are otherwise only temporarily attending on the external public spaces of Ryerson University Premises.  

These Procedures are subject to any laws or government orders applicable to Ryerson University.

The University may revise these Procedures or establish exceptions as may be necessary or deemed prudent by the University, having regard to all relevant factors and to ensure ongoing responsiveness to public health and safety developments and conditions, legal developments, and Ryerson University’s activities and operations.

III.  Definitions

All capitalized terms not otherwise defined in these Procedures have the meanings set out in the Policy.

  1. “Contractor” means an individual or organization who is providing goods or services to the University under contract with the University, or who are participating in a procurement process to provide goods or services to provide goods or services to the University, and any employee, subcontractor, agent or any other individual for whom such individual or organization is responsible.
  2. “Guest” means a member of the public that has received a personal invitation by a Ryerson faculty or staff member or student to attend on Ryerson University Premises for a visit, event, or activity.  This includes regulators, inspectors, auditors and other individuals who may be attending on Ryerson University Premises to inspect or otherwise verify that Ryerson is in compliance with government or contractual regulations, or other requirements applicable to the University.
  3. Medical Note” means a valid written document outlining a COVID-19 medical exemption for Vaccination that has been issued by a Canadian licensed physician or nurse practitioner, that includes the name and contact information of the physician or nurse practitioner (for example, phone number and address), a logo or letterhead identifying the physician or nurse practitioner, a statement that there is a medical reason for the individual’s exemption for being fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and an effective time-period for the medical reason within the date the individual is seeking access to the business or organization.
  4. “Patron” means a member of the public that has generally been invited by the University to attend on Ryerson University Premises for the purposes of receiving goods or services from the University, whether paid or unpaid, including spectators attending at Athletics and Recreation Venues.
  5. “Policy” means the University’s COVID-19 Vaccination Policy
  6. “Principal Investigator” means the University faculty member who has primary responsibility for the oversight and direction of a specific Scholarly, Research or Creative activity.
  7. “Responsible Person” means the Ryerson staff or faculty member, or student who has issued an invitation to a Guest, or who has been designated by their University unit or a student group, to be responsible for verifying the compliance of Guests and Patrons with the Policy. 
  8. “Research Participant” means a member of the public that is taking part as a participant (including as a support person) in a research study under an approved protocol by the Ryerson Research Ethics Board.
  9. “RyersonSafe App” means the digital application that is utilized by the University for tracking the Vaccination status of individuals.
  10. “Safe SRC Plan” means the plan that has been approved by the Office of the Vice President Research and Innovation that governs the access to the Ryerson University Premises for the purposes of scholarly, research or creative activities.
  11. University” means Ryerson University.
  12. Vaccination Receipt” means either a paper or digital copy of a COVID-19 vaccination receipt that demonstrates that the holder is Fully Vaccinated and which includes the individual’s name, date of vaccination and product name (brand of vaccine) at the time of vaccination.   Any of the following are acceptable Vaccination Receipts: (i) a vaccination receipt signed by an Indigenous Health Provider; (ii) an Ontario Ministry of Health issued vaccination receipt (digital or printed paper copy) (iii) a province of Ontario issued vaccination QR code; (iv) a government issued vaccination receipt from a jurisdiction outside of Ontario shows the holder is Fully Vaccinated; and a (v) green QR code issued through the RyersonSafeApp.

IV.      Guests

  1. Prior to entry into Ryerson University Premises, all Guests attending on Ryerson University Premises that are aged 12 and older must provide to the relevant Responsible Person either:
    1. a Medical Note and evidence of a negative Rapid Antigen Test obtained within the previous three days;
    2. proof of an approved exemption issued by the University and evidence of a negative Rapid Antigen Test obtained within the previous three days; or
    3. proof that they have been Fully Vaccinated through provision of a Vaccination Receipt showing the last vaccine has been received more than 14 days prior and matching identification issued by an institution or public body that includes the individual’s name and date of birth.
  2. It is the responsibility of the Responsible Person to communicate to their Guests at the time of invitation the requirements of the Policy and these Procedures, and to verify the Guest’s compliance with the Policy when their Guest(s) attend on Ryerson University Premises.  Failure to do so is considered a violation of the Policy.

V.  Patrons

  1. At the time of their entry into an indoor space or facility on the Ryerson University Premises, all Patrons aged 12 and older must, provide to the relevant Responsible Person either a:
    1. a Medical Note and evidence of a negative Rapid Antigen Test obtained within the previous three days;
    2. proof of an approved exemption issued by the University and evidence of a negative Rapid Antigen Test obtained within the previous three days; or
    3. proof that they have been Fully Vaccinated through provision of a Vaccination Receipt showing the last vaccine has been received more than 14 days prior and matching identification issued by an institution or public body that includes the individual’s name and date of birth.
  2. Notwithstanding subsection (a) above, Patrons attending on Ryerson University Premises for the purposes of visiting the University’s medical facilities or a COVID-19 vaccination clinic held on Ryerson University Premises are not required to show proof they are Fully Vaccinated, a Medical Note or proof of an exemption issued by the University.
  3. Each unit or department that has indoor spaces or facilities on Ryerson University Premises accessible to Patrons is responsible for communicating the entry requirements to Patrons seeking to access their respective spaces or facilities. 
  4. Each unit or department accessible to Patrons at the University is responsible for designating Responsible Persons who are responsible for verifying a Patron’s compliance with the Policy and these Procedures prior to the Patron’s entrance to the indoor space or facility.

VI.  Research Participants

  1. All Research Participants that are aged 12 and older that are attending on Ryerson University Premises for the purposes of participation in a research study must provide a Medical note or proof that they have been Fully Vaccinated to the respective Principal Investigator (or their designate) for the research study in accordance with the Principal Investigator’s Safe SRC Plan, unless an exemption has been approved under the Safe SRC Plan.  
  2. It is the responsibility of Principal Investigators to ensure that Research Participants attending at their labs are aware of the University’s requirements regarding proof of Vaccination, and that the applicable Vaccination verification process set out in the Principal Investigator’s Safe SRC Plan is complied with.   Failure to do so is considered a violation of the Policy.

VII. General

  1. Prior to entry to Ryerson University Premises all Guests, Patron and Research Participants must complete and pass a COVID-19 health screen through the RyersonSafe App, the Government of Ontario’s COVID-19 self-assessment, or another self assessment tool designated by the University.
  2. All Guests, Patrons and Research Participants attending on Ryerson University Premises must comply with applicable provincial local and University health and safety protocols and directions of the University.
  3. In addition to the requirements set out herein, the University may impose site specific protocols applicable to specific Ryerson University Premises, provided that such protocols are more stringent than these procedures.  The University shall publicly communicate such additional protocols relevant to specific site(s).
  4. As set out in the Policy, visitors to Ryerson University Premises may request an exemption from the Policy due to a medical reason or other protected ground under the Ontario Human Rights Code.  Any such Guest, Patrons or Research Participants requesting an exemption under the Policy must do so in accordance with the University’s process for requesting an exemption.