The Toronto District School Board has released a COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccine Procedure for implementation.

Through this procedure, the TDSB is taking action to protect the health and safety of employees, students, families and community members and is in line with Ministry of Education direction, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health’s instructions, and a resolution by the Board of Trustees. The TDSB also conducted consultations with several stakeholders.

By November 1, 2021, employees, Trustees, and other individuals who have direct contact with staff or students at a TDSB workplace, must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (subject to approved requests for exemptions under the Human Rights Code). Until then, those who are not vaccinated or have not disclosed their vaccination status must continue to undergo rapid antigen testing at home and provide proof of a negative result, twice per week. In addition, those who do not have a medical/disability exemption will be required to undertake an education session on the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination.

As required by the Ministry of Education, the TDSB is collecting the COVID-19 vaccination disclosure information of its more than 40,000 staff members. To date, approximately 94% of the staff who have responded (approximately 83%) have indicated that they are vaccinated.

Quick Facts

• The Board of Trustees provided direction to staff during their August 25 meeting to begin creating a Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Procedure for the TDSB.
• Requests for exemptions and reasonable accommodations related to a medical condition/disability or religious/creed under the Human Rights Code will be considered. However, due to the serious health threat COVID-19 presents to the public, this duty to accommodate will be balanced against the Board’s obligations to protect the health and safety of employees and students.

“This is an important step in the TDSB’s direction to keep students and staff as safe as possible during the pandemic. By requiring staff, Trustees and others to be vaccinated, we reduce the impact that COVID cases have on our classrooms, schools and communities.”
- Alexander Brown, Chair, TDSB

“While we recognize that deciding to be vaccinated is a deeply personal one, we have strived to balance acknowledging that fact with doing our utmost to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff, while allowing a period of time for staff who have not yet received a vaccine to do so. By reducing the number of positive COVID-19 cases introduced to our schools, we are better able to protect our school communities and ensure fewer disruptions to student learning and well-being.”

- Colleen Russell-Rawlins, Director of Education, TDSB