Baker McKenzie Advises McMaster University on Challenge to Mandatory Vaccination Policy

Baker McKenzie represented McMaster College in defending its necessary COVID-19 vaccination policy on judicial review. Four Applicants requested for an exemption from the University’s mandatory vaccination plan, citing religious and conscience grounds. The University refused their exemption requests, declaring no relationship in between their religious beliefs and refusal to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Candidates challenged the University’s authority to implement the coverage. They also claimed the College breached their human legal rights and that the University’s course of action for analyzing their statements was unfair and biased. The Court dismissed all of the Applicants’ statements. It also highlighted how diligent and good the University’s processes and associates were in producing a assessment approach and assessing programs below it.

This is the first scenario in the Ontario courts to deal with the problem on the merits alternatively of by way of injunctive relief. This determination also has sector-broad implications as each and every College and School in Ontario has some variety of necessary vaccination coverage.

The Baker McKenzie group advising McMaster College was George Avraam, Ahmed Shafey and Ajanthana Anandarajah, with specific aid from Juliette Mestre and Eleanor Dennis.