This fall, the University of British Columbia plans to resume in-person classes. Thousands of students and staff will be returning to campus, coming into close contact in lecture halls, common areas and other indoor spaces. Although the university has implemented certain safety measures – such as sanitizing high-touch surfaces more frequently – vaccinations will not be mandatory, nor masks in indoor spaces. Many UBC community members feel that the current measures do not go far enough, and remain anxious about returning to campus. 

As the Delta variant takes hold, COVID-19 case numbers are on the rise across Canada. In British Columbia, daily case counts have reached levels not seen since May, and modelling has predicted hospitalizations could reach record highs by the end of August. Although vaccinations offer greater protection, recent studies have shown increasing rates of "breakthrough" COVID-19 infections among fully vaccinated people. The bottom line: we need to take stronger precautions. 

To protect all members of the UBC community this fall, it is critical that the university make vaccines mandatory for students and staff, except those who cannot receive the shot for medical reasons, and require masks indoors. The federal government is currently examining mandatory vaccinations for all federal employees, and countless educational institutions across North America have already taken this step; it is time for UBC to follow in their footsteps. Please add your voice to the conversation and sign our petition, to ensure that all community members feel safe and to help make UBC's return to campus a success.