The Democracy Fund (TDF) legal team said it is representing a group of University of Toronto students and their parents opposed to the university’s COVID-19 booster mandate for those staying in residence buildings this fall. ."The right to bodily autonomy, medical privacy and equal treatment under the law are fundamental rights in our democracy,” said TDF senior litigator Mark Joseph in a press release..“Forcing incoming residence students to take a COVID-19 booster arguably violates these rights.” .U of T announced on July 21 it will be requiring students living in residences to have taken three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. .READ MORE: Toronto university mandates booster shots for students living in residences.“As part of our commitment to health and safety, the University and its federated colleges require students living in residence during the 2022-23 academic year to be vaccinated for COVID-19,” said U of T. .“Students moving into residence are expected to complete the primary series of vaccinations and a booster dose, at least 14 days prior to their residence move-in date.” .The Ontario government ended vaccine passports in March, and the majority of universities followed by suspending their mandates in May. U of T is the one post-secondary institution in Canada with a booster mandate for residences. .The release said this mandate has put undue strain on students living in residences because it was announced late in the summer, providing them with one month to seek alternative housing in a market with limited options. It said many students have paid their tuition fees, which puts them in an unfair position and raises their financial burden. .TDF said it proposed a number of resolutions respecting unboosted students such as rescinding the booster mandate, recognizing natural immunity, and offering rapid testing. ."It is important for Canadians to resist the forfeiture of their fundamental rights and freedoms because the price paid to secure them was so high," said Joseph..U of T could not be reached for comment in time for publication.
