Student Placement FAQ: COVID-19 Vaccination

As of Nov. 1, 2021, any student completing a clinical placement at St. Joseph’s Health Care London must be fully vaccinated, or have a legitimate medical exemption.

A full series of a COVID-19 vaccine or combination of COVID-19 vaccines approved by the World Health Organization and Health Canada (e.g., two dose vaccine series, or mixed doses). View the COVID-19 Vaccination Information Sheet.

Yes, with regular rapid antigen testing being a requirement on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Please note, however, medically exempt students who have a COVID-19 exposure or are completing a placement in an area where there is a COVID-19 outbreak, will not be able to proceed with their placement until the exposure/outbreak is resolved.

September 13, 2021.

You must be fully vaccinated (14 days post second dose) to start your placement.

Yes. The policy applies to any student of St. Joseph’s, whether they work on-site or remotely. At any time, staff working remotely could be asked to resume in-person work, which would also impact the student.

Students who have a medical exemption need to complete their rapid antigen testing in the community (i.e. pharmacy) and must do so three times per week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, regardless of clinic placement schedules. Compliance and reporting of rapid antigen tests are the responsibility of schools. Reporting data must be sent to St. Joseph’s Occupational Health & Safety Services by the school on a schedule determined by the hospital and/or Ontario Ministry of Health. Please note, if schools observe non-adherence to rapid antigen testing on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Student Affairs must be notified immediately that a student is no longer meeting placement requirements.

Any costs associated with rapid antigen testing in the community are the sole responsibility of the student. 

No. As per the policy, students are expected to complete testing on their own time.

Students must provide any relevant documentation to their school to record/monitor. Schools must communicate student aggregate data directly to Occupational Health & Safety Services (OHSS) on a schedule determined by OHSS or the Ontario Ministry of Health. Schools need to notify Student Affairs immediately if a student ceases to maintain this placement requirement. Acceptable documentation for proof of vaccination is Dose Administration Receipts. Acceptable documentation for a medical exemption is a written note from a primary care provider (physician or nurse practitioner), indicating a legitimate medical exemption and the effective time period for the medical reason (i.e. severe allergic reactions or anaphylaxis to a previous dose of a COVID-19 vaccine or to any of its components and who have been assessed by an allergist/immunologist to review methods for possible (re)administration of a COVID-19 vaccine; lifetime exemption). Acceptable documentation for proof of rapid antigen tests is paper or electronic confirmation of the outcome of the rapid antigen test.  

Yes. At this time, the Ontario government requires hospitals to submit monthly aggregate data on workers’ (including students) vaccination and testing status. 

Please refer to the Pandemic Memo Package for information about PPE, which continues to apply to all workers (employees, students) regardless of vaccination status. While only partially vaccinated and medically exempt students will be regularly tested for COVID-19, please note ALL students who have a COVID-19 exposure or completing a placement in an area where a COVID-19 outbreak is declared will also be required to have a COVID-19 test.

Please contact @email in Student Affairs for a chart summarizing the data that schools are required to send to Occupational Health & Safety Services on a monthly basis.