BC Vaccine Card

Today the Provincial Health Officer announced the BC Vaccine Card, which will be implemented beginning September 13 for discretionary activities and events during this period of high risk. The BC Vaccine Card will require those over 12 to prove vaccination for admission to some activities and events. This requirement will affect operations on our campuses. I am in close contact with provincial health and the Ministry of Advanced Education to understand the specifics and to share my perspective on how the BC Vaccine Card could be applied for activities at SFU. 

As was announced today, current cases are largely among the unvaccinated. I strongly encourage all members of the SFU community to get vaccinated if they haven’t already. We are taking a couple of steps to ensure high degrees of full vaccination among our students, faculty and staff as we return to campus:

• Vaccination clinics on Burnaby and Surrey campuses, and easy access to vaccination for those on the Vancouver campus
• A survey of all students, faculty and staff will be conducted to understand more about our current rate of vaccination. The anonymous survey will be launched later this week and will provide an estimate of vaccination rate

More information on the post-secondary sector guidelines will be shared by Dr. Henry and Minister Kang Tuesday. The intent of the new requirements being announced this week is to provide enhanced safety while post-secondary institutions proceed to deliver an in-person experience. As public organizations, universities follow guidance of the Provincial Health Officer and government and have taken a sector-wide approach to managing COVID-19 throughout the pandemic. 

I want to acknowledge that much is changing this week and living with such uncertainty is difficult. My thanks to all students, faculty and staff for your patience, understanding and compassion as we navigate our return to in-person learning, teaching and work.

Sincerely,

Joy Johnson