NAME OCTCM Covid Vaccination Policy

TYPE COVID Policy and Procedure

VERSION 2 STATUS Effective 2021-09-07
DATE REVISED 2021-09-04 Approved By Office of President

In accordance with the O.Reg. 364/20: Rules for Areas at Step 3 and at the Roadmap Exit Step
and under the direct order from the Chief Medical Officer of Health and the provincial
government, all post secondary educational institutions in Ontario including OCTCM are
required to implement a Covid Vaccination Policy that applies to all staff, contractors (instructors
and supervisors), and students no later than September 7th. It does not apply to patients in the
teaching clinic.

Starting September 7th, all staff, instructors, clinical supervisors, and students who attend any
on campus classes or clinics will be required to provide:

● Proof of full vaccination

Or

● Written medical exemption +

● Weekly negative rapid test result or proof of positive PCR test result from past 90 days
(after 90 days will need antigen testing)

Or

● Vaccination education session +

● Weekly negative rapid test result or proof of positive PCR test result from past 90 days
(after 90 days will need antigen testing)

You can book your vaccination or get proof of vaccination here: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/

Proof of full vaccination

● Proof means documentation verifying receipt of a vaccination series approved by Health
Canada or the World Health Organization. Examples include:
○ Print out of the official record of the second vaccination dose.

Toronto Campus: 283 Spadina Ave, 3rd Fl. Toronto, ON M5T 2E3/ P: 416 901 8818 E: toronto@octcm.com
Markham Campus: 3190 Steeles Ave East #110, Markham, ON L3R 1G9 / P: 905 477 8855 E: markham@octcm.com

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 ○ Confirmation of official status by provincial or federal authority such as a digital
app. At the time of writing, it is expected that by the end of October, there will be
an official “vaccine passport” from the provincial government.
○ Vaccination Attestation can be accepted up until OCT 29th. After that date,
students and staff must provide proof of vaccination.
● An individual 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.

Written medical exemption

● This must be from a Medical Doctor or from a Nurse Practitioner of extended class and
be explicit to the COVID 19 vaccination medical exemption. This documentation will be
checked by and verified by Campus administrators.

Vaccination education session

● Approved vaccination education session is completed
by the staff or student and the Proof of Vaccination
Education is provided to the office.
● As primary care providers, our profession has a
responsibility to be educated about vaccinations. It is
recognized that communicating information about
vaccinations to our patients is beyond the scope of
Registered Acupuncturists and TCM Practitioners in
Ontario and that this course is for self learning only.
● Send a screenshot upon the completion of this course
such as the one found to the right.
● Recommended course:
https://lakeridgeulearn.cerner.com/content/LRHO_CD/courses/1COVID19%20Vaccinatio
n%20%20Making%20an%20Informed%20Decision%20MLTC_1624538732109/story_ht
ml5.html
● Alternate course: https://www.dfcm.utoronto.ca/covid19-vaccination-modules

Weekly negative rapid test result

● For students attending in person classes or clinics who have either a medical exemption
or opt to not get vaccinated and complete the vaccination education, they will need to
provide a weekly negative test result.
● Rapid tests are provided free of charge at the school.
● The weekly requirement will be recorded in a separate record from the status.

Toronto Campus: 283 Spadina Ave, 3rd Fl. Toronto, ON M5T 2E3/ P: 416 901 8818 E: toronto@octcm.com
Markham Campus: 3190 Steeles Ave East #110, Markham, ON L3R 1G9 / P: 905 477 8855 E: markham@octcm.com

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 ● Because some people continue to test positive for an extended time, proof of a positive
result from the past 90 days will also be accepted in place of rapid testing (after 90 days
will need antigen testing).
● Students and staff should self test. This instructional video provides instructions on how
to take a rapid tests but instructions for rapid tests may vary:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9XR8RZxKNo

Implementation
OCTCM will implement this policy on a course registration basis starting in the September term.
Campus administrators will collect the required information from all students and staff who
register for or teach an on campus practicum or clinic for that term.

Record Keeping
Vaccination status and medical exemptions are confidential health information. As such, this
information needs to be in compliance with PHIPA. Each campus will maintain one file for
recording this information.

Vaccination status record sample:

Staff or Student Date of Second Medical Education + Staff verification

Name Dose Exemption weekly testing signature

Rapid testing record sample:

Staff or Student Date of Test Type of test Result of Test Staff Verification
Name (Rapid/PCR) Signature

Reporting of aggregate data to the Ministry:

OCTCM must collect, maintain and disclose non-identifiable aggregate data reported on a
monthly basis. The method of reporting has not yet been established but will include the.
● Total number or percentage of fully vaccinated students and staff
● Total number or percentage of students and staff with a medical exemption + testing
requirement
● Total number or percentage of students and staff undergoing education + testing
requirement

*NOTE: The method of reporting has not yet been established by the Ministry.

Toronto Campus: 283 Spadina Ave, 3rd Fl. Toronto, ON M5T 2E3/ P: 416 901 8818 E: toronto@octcm.com
Markham Campus: 3190 Steeles Ave East #110, Markham, ON L3R 1G9 / P: 905 477 8855 E: markham@octcm.com

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FAQ:

What if I have a personal or religious reason for not getting the vaccine?
The option in these situations is to complete the vaccination education and weekly rapid tests.

What happens if I only take online courses?

This requirement only pertains to in person classes or clinics. You can continue to take as many
online theory courses as possible, however, at the point that you have completed all theory
based courses, you would need to pause your education until you decide to meet the
requirements of the vaccination policy or until the province of Ontarioremoves the mandatory
vaccination policy requirements for post-secondary education institutions in Ontario.

What happens if my rapid test is positive?

You should not attend in person classes or clinics if your rapid test is positive. This is not
diagnostic testing so you should follow that by getting PCR testing. A positive PCR test will not
restrict you from attending on campus activities if you pass the prescreening requirements and
will exempt you from the need for weekly rapid tests for 90 days. If you receive a negative PCR
test you can return to campus.

Toronto Campus: 283 Spadina Ave, 3rd Fl. Toronto, ON M5T 2E3/ P: 416 901 8818 E: toronto@octcm.com
Markham Campus: 3190 Steeles Ave East #110, Markham, ON L3R 1G9 / P: 905 477 8855 E: markham@octcm.com

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