Next steps in COVID-19 response

Dear VCC community,

As we head into our third year living with COVID-19, post-secondary institutions such as Vancouver Community College (VCC), continue to be one of the safest places to learn and work. At VCC, we are proud of our faculty, staff, and students for our response to the pandemic and for working collectively to keep our community safe.

We are pleased to share additional updates from the Provincial Health Office (PHO) that are relevant to our community as we continue to move forward.  

SPRING BOOSTER PROGRAM

On Tuesday, April 5, the PHO announced additional measures to address COVID-19 in the community, while protecting those most at risk. Most significantly, seniors over the age of 70 and Indigenous elders over the age of 55 will be eligible to receive a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose. In addition, immune-compromised individuals will be eligible as well. If you fall into one of these categories, find out more details about the province’s spring booster program.

PROOF OF VACCINATION NO LONGER REQUIRED

As Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry stated, easing restrictions comes after ongoing and careful review of current data. The PHO’s approach to COVID-19 was to have only “the minimum necessary restrictions to keep our community safe” until we can progress from “legally enforceable requirements to a place of collective [management]”.

As a result, the province is continuing with previously announced plans to further lift COVID-19 restrictions. As of Friday, April 8 at 12:01 a.m., proof of vaccination to access businesses, events, and services is no longer required. This extends to VCC restaurants and services including JJ’s Restaurant, The Bistro, VCC Salon & Spa, and others (See the full list of on-campus services at VCC). 

GET YOUR VACCINE AND BOOSTER

British Columbians continue to lead the way in being one of the most vaccinated provinces in the country with more than 93 per cent of eligible adults having received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. We encourage everyone in the VCC community to receive your vaccine and eligible booster if you have not already done so. 

Let’s continue to all do our part in maintaining a safe place to work and learn – get vaccinated, use your layers of protection, monitor symptoms, and stay home if ill. Although masks are no longer mandated in indoor public settings, some people may choose to continue wearing a mask indoors and others will not. We encourage everyone to go at your own pace and be respectful of others. 

Thank you for your continued commitment to the safety of our community.

Sincerely,

VCC Emergency Operations Centre

Surinder Aulakh, EOC Director
Clayton Munro, Deputy Director
Jen Hill, Communications Lead
Sladjana Borovcanin, Operations Section Chief
David McMullen, Planning Section Chief
Soleille Cyr, RTC Lead
Darlene Hodgson, People Services Resource
Robyn Wood, CUPE Representative
Taryn Thomson, FA Representative
Jo-Ellen Zakoor, VCC Admin. Dean of Health