Lethbridge College announced it will now ensure unvaccinated students can complete their programs, contrary to what students were told in early June..“An email, sent on June 3, 2022, to second-year students enrolled in the Massage Therapy program, indicated students would have to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 in order to participate in the Work Integrated Learning (WIL) portion of the program,” Lethbridge College said in a statement Friday..“Second-year Massage Therapy students rotate through six to eight different sites within the community for WIL opportunities.”.“Many of these industry partners have COVID-19 vaccination policies in place that prevent students, who are not fully immunized, from participating.".“However, where necessary, the college will work with these students to ensure they can meet their practicum requirements.”.This is a big relief for students like Jayme Velthuis, who started her program before mandates were in place and does not want the COVID-19 vaccine..“While students in the healthcare field, including massage therapy, are encouraged to be vaccinated for all communicable diseases as per Alberta Health Services (AHS) guidelines, Lethbridge College in no way mandates vaccinations as an enrolment requirement,” said the college..Lethbridge College previously cited AHS worker COVID-19 vaccination policy in their reasoning for requiring the disclosure for students to continue in the fall..But contrary to the college's previous claims, it turns out AHS does not have students from the college undertaking practicums in its facilities according to an AHS statement Monday.."Lethbridge College massage therapy students are not placed in AHS facilities, so there is no requirement for those students to meet the AHS Immunization of Workers for COVID-19 policy," said Kerry Williamson, AHS communications executive director..READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE: Lethbridge College mandates COVID vaccine this fall, blames AHS.The June 3 email informed students it's mandatory for them to have two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, additionally it said if proof is not submitted by the deadline students would incur penalty fees.. Lethbridge College email, June 3Lethbridge College email, June 3, courtesy of Alisha Velthuis
Lethbridge College announced it will now ensure unvaccinated students can complete their programs, contrary to what students were told in early June..“An email, sent on June 3, 2022, to second-year students enrolled in the Massage Therapy program, indicated students would have to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 in order to participate in the Work Integrated Learning (WIL) portion of the program,” Lethbridge College said in a statement Friday..“Second-year Massage Therapy students rotate through six to eight different sites within the community for WIL opportunities.”.“Many of these industry partners have COVID-19 vaccination policies in place that prevent students, who are not fully immunized, from participating.".“However, where necessary, the college will work with these students to ensure they can meet their practicum requirements.”.This is a big relief for students like Jayme Velthuis, who started her program before mandates were in place and does not want the COVID-19 vaccine..“While students in the healthcare field, including massage therapy, are encouraged to be vaccinated for all communicable diseases as per Alberta Health Services (AHS) guidelines, Lethbridge College in no way mandates vaccinations as an enrolment requirement,” said the college..Lethbridge College previously cited AHS worker COVID-19 vaccination policy in their reasoning for requiring the disclosure for students to continue in the fall..But contrary to the college's previous claims, it turns out AHS does not have students from the college undertaking practicums in its facilities according to an AHS statement Monday.."Lethbridge College massage therapy students are not placed in AHS facilities, so there is no requirement for those students to meet the AHS Immunization of Workers for COVID-19 policy," said Kerry Williamson, AHS communications executive director..READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE: Lethbridge College mandates COVID vaccine this fall, blames AHS.The June 3 email informed students it's mandatory for them to have two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, additionally it said if proof is not submitted by the deadline students would incur penalty fees.. Lethbridge College email, June 3Lethbridge College email, June 3, courtesy of Alisha Velthuis
