Covid Immunization Disclosure
Date of Issue – September 20, 2021
Responsibility: General Manager
Related References:STSWR Service Contract, STSWR HR Policies
1. Purpose
The purpose of this document is to outline STSWR expectations with regards to COVID-19 immunization disclosure of staff, school bus operators and taxis, who provide in-person transportation services to students of the WCDSB and /or WRDSB and who have direct contact with staff and/or students (“The Covered Individuals”).
All eligible individuals are strongly encouraged to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, unless there is a medical reason to not receive a vaccine.
2. Background
STSWR recognizes the importance of immunization as a key element to help keep student transportation safe. This COVID-19 immunization disclosure procedure aims to protect the school board’s population and service providers. COVID-19 is an acute respiratory illness caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It may be characterized by fever, cough, shortness of breath, and several other symptoms. Asymptomatic infection is also possible. The risk of severe disease increases with age but is not limited to the elderly and is elevated in those with underlying medical conditions.
3 Application of the procedure
This immunization disclosure procedure applies to the following groups, except where
the individual works remotely and the individual’s work does not involve in-person
interactions:
• All STSWR employees/staff, including daily and long-term occasional
• Student transportation drivers, bus monitors, and
The following individuals if have direct contact with drivers or students:
• Office, dispatch and management
4 Procedure
The Chief Medical Officer of Health has directed STSWR to develop, implement and ensure compliance with a COVID-19 immunization disclosure procedure. This procedure requires all individuals covered by the procedure to provide one of the following:
1. Proof of being Fully Vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine approved by the World Health Organization.
2. Written proof of a medical reason, provided by either a physician or nurse practitioner that sets out:
a) the person cannot be vaccinated against COVID-19; and
Administrative Procedure HR-14
Covid Immunization Disclosure
b) the effective time period for the medical reason (i.e., permanent or time-limited).
3.Proof that the individual has completed the educational program prescribed by the Ministry of Education.
5 Educational program
The educational program has been prescribed by the Ministry of Education and addresses the following learning components:
• How COVID-19 vaccines work;
• Vaccine safety related to the development of the COVID-19 vaccines;
• Benefits of vaccination against COVID-19;
• Risks of not being vaccinated against COVID-19; and
• Possible side effects of COVID-19 vaccination.
Unvaccinated employees must attest that they have watched the training video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lylv8yFnjcM
6 Testing requirements
Individuals subject to the procedure who are not fully vaccinated must regularly complete rapid antigen testing for COVID-19 and demonstrate a negative result, at a minimum interval of twice weekly; and provide verification of the negative test result.
7 Confidentiality statement
STSWR is required, pursuant to the Chief Medical Officer of Health’s direction, to report statistical information to the Ministry of Education. All statistical information will be provided in depersonalized aggregate form on a monthly basis.
8. Definition of Fully Vaccinated
For the purposes of this procedure, an employee is defined as fully immunized ≥14 days after receiving their second dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine series or their first dose of a one-dose COVID-19 vaccine series that is listed for emergency use by the World Health Organization or approved by Health Canada. The definition of “fully immunized” is subject to change based on direction from the Ministry of Health and/or Ontario Chief Medical Officer.