**Updated with link to PHO PSE Town Hall
As the post-secondary sector prepares for a return to campus in the fall, I was able to participate in a Post-secondary Town Hall with representatives from the Office of the Provincial Health Officer (PHO), including Dr. Bonnie Henry. The town hall was an opportunity for the senior administrative team at each public post-secondary institution, as well as local and provincial post-secondary labour union presidents, to discuss the preliminary public health guidance for September 2021.
The session was informative and provided insights into what the PHO anticipates for the fall and beyond. While there is definitely a recognition that we will be living with COVID-19 for a long time, there was a definite level of optimism as our knowledge of the virus increases and as vaccines work very effectively to create a high degree of personal protection. We are moving from a period where the very blunt instrument of public health measures, which are in place to reduce deaths, have accomplished their intended results, to shifting to living life with this disease with vaccines as our primary prevention measure.
The goal of the PHO is to enable everyone to get vaccinated, as this is most effective way to create community protection. Over the coming weeks the age cohort able to register for a vaccine will drop to include those 18 and older. The PHO also stressed that when we get to the point where 70-75% of adults have received a single vaccine dose this will create strong community protection. In all likelihood, most of us will have our second doses before the fall when classes begin.
For each of us, for our families, for our campus community and beyond, I would encourage us all to support the immunization efforts and get vaccinated. This is very much a community effort and our actions will not only help us individually, but perhaps even more importantly, they will help to strengthen protect our community (and our community is a global community). As part of this I would also encourage everyone to take care of themselves, after all, what would our community be without you. If you need support, please reach out.
I came across this video that, for me, is a good reminder of how important vaccines are in the world.
Sheryl Karras, Chapter Chair, UVic PEA
