Queen’s hasn’t decided how exactly the COVID-19 vaccine will factor into its campus re-opening plan for the 2021-22 year.

The University is still in its “high-level” planning phase about whether students will need to be vaccinated to return to campus, according to Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) Mark Green, in an update to Senate last week. 

When The Journal inquired for more information about how the vaccine has factored into the campus re-opening plan, the University said it doesn’t “have anything further to add” beyond what it has said previously concerning the vaccine rollout.

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Kingston, Frontenac, and Lennox and Addington (KFL&A) Public Health are reminding the community to be patient during the vaccine rollout.

“We understand that residents of KFL&A are ready and eager to receive their COVID-19 vaccine,” KFL&A Public Health wrote in a press release. “Our phone lines at KFL&A Public Health and at local COVID-19 vaccine clinics are experiencing extremely high volumes of calls.”  

“Please do not call KFL&A Public Health or any of our area COVID-19 vaccine clinics for appointment or eligibility information. Please do not go to COVID-19 vaccine clinics without an appointment.”

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Groups currently eligible to receive the vaccine include long-term care home and high-risk retirement home residents; staff and essential caregivers in long-term care homes and high-risk retirement homes; highest and very high priority health care workers; Indigenous adults from northern remote and higher-risk communities; and a small group of individuals 80 years of age and older who are testing the online booking system this week.

The provincial online booking system is scheduled to open to members of the public 80 years of age and older and Indigenous adults 55 years of age and older on March 15. The number of bookings available at that time will depend on the supply of vaccine KFL&A Public Health receives from the Province of Ontario.

“Over time, vaccine supply will increase so that all KFL&A residents who wish to be vaccinated will have access to a vaccine,” KFL&A Public Health wrote.

KFL&A Public Health has also discussed implementing on-campus vaccination clinics at Queen’s and St. Lawrence College by fall 2021, The Journal reported on Monday. Vaccine availability is expected for the post-secondary population at that time.