A challenge of Western University’s COVID\u002D19 booster dose mandate by five students has been dismissed in court.
Counsel for Western argued the school has broad powers under the University of Western Ontario Act, the provincial legislation governing the school, and that implementing a vaccination policy is a “lawfully authorized activity.”
“That the province no longer requires Western to impose a vaccine mandate, or that Western is reportedly the only university in Ontario to impose such a mandate, is of no consequence. Western is expressly permitted to govern its affairs.” The students are represented by Bildy and Mark Joseph of The Democracy Fund, a charity that has provided legal help to people charged with pandemic-related offences.
Several Ivy league schools in the United States – including Yale and Harvard – require students to be up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters. The University of Toronto requires students living in residence to have at least three COVID-19 shots.