Monday, January 11, 2021

Supporting students during the provincial shutdown

A message from Campus Housing, Food Services and Print + Retail Solutions

Happy New Year from Campus Housing, Food Services and Print + Retail Solutions. Even during the provincial shutdown, we know that students need a place to call home, delicious, healthy meals, and the right supplies for a successful academic year. We remain committed to supporting all students on campus through the shutdown and beyond.  

Here’s how we are doing that: 

Campus Housing

Residences are open for move-in with enhanced safety measures in place. Our residence life team is working hard to create a safe and engaging environment as we welcome our returning and new students including study permit students who will be joining the residence community this term. With the planned launch of the UWP ice rink (public health guidelines permitting), students can have fun safely in winter. Learn more about how residence is supporting students this term on our winter 2021 page. 

Food Services

Tim Hortons at the Student Life Centre is open for takeout while all other locations on campus are closed until January 25 to reduce traffic and follow Ontario shutdown guidelines. The Market at Claudette Millar Hall remains open for takeout during the shutdown with strict safety measures in place for all staff and visitors to maintain distance and reduce contact. We welcome students that would like help navigating nutrition during this challenging time to contact us or visit our website for nutrition and recipe resources.  

Print + Retail Solutions

W Store (wstore.ca) and W Print (wprint.ca) continue to serve students online with free contactless curbside pickup and flat rate shipping. Print orders can be placed online and picked up in our location in the General Services Complex, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. All other physical locations are closed during this time. 

Have a question about one of our services? We are here to help. Please reach out with your request.  

Q and A with the experts: Pfizer and Moderna vaccine FAQs

By Media Relations. The University of Waterloo has a number of experts available for comment on various aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are being administered across Canada to priority groups.

We spoke to pharmacist and drug expert Professor Kelly Grindrod to answer some commonly asked questions about getting vaccinated against COVID-19. 

How long do the vaccines protect against COVID-19?

Both vaccines appear to start to provide some protection within about a week of the first dose, but the full effect occurs after the second dose. The doses are given 3 weeks apart for the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine, and 4 weeks apart for the Moderna vaccine. We are waiting for long-term data to know how long the protection will last with either vaccine, and if booster doses will be needed after a certain time period such as every year or every 5-10 years.

Does the vaccine work differently for different people?

The Pfizer vaccine appears to have a similar benefit across age groups, but adults aged 55 and over tend to have fewer side effects than younger people. 

The Moderna vaccine may have slightly less effect in people 65 or older, but it is not yet clear if there is a true difference.

Both vaccines may also be less effective for people who are immunocompromised.

Who should get the vaccine, who shouldn’t?

To date, the vaccines have been tested in adults who are not pregnant. As a result, the vaccine is not currently being offered to children, though studies are now underway in children aged 12 and older. The vaccine can be administered to pregnant and breastfeeding individuals, but until more is known about the safety of the vaccine in pregnancy and breastfeeding, the risks and benefits need to be carefully considered. For example, pregnant or breastfeeding individuals who have a high risk of COVID exposure may opt for the vaccine, while others who are relatively isolated at home may not. Until more is known, the decision will be highly individualized.

The vaccines are contraindicated for anyone with an allergy to one of the ingredients, including polyethylene glycol. Health Canada does not currently recommend that people with a history of severe allergic reactions in general avoid the vaccine. Instead, as per standard vaccination practices, everyone should be monitored for at least 15-20 minutes after the vaccine to watch for an allergic reaction. Further, if anaphylaxis occurs with the first dose of the vaccine, a second dose should not be administered. 

People who have an illness with fever may also be asked to wait to receive the vaccine. Further, people who have been diagnosed with COVID in the last 90 days may be asked to wait to receive the vaccine when supplies are limited as the infection may provide some early protection. 

What are some of the most common side effects of both vaccines?

Most people are going to have a sore arm 1-2 days after the vaccine. Over half will feel a bit tired and may have a headache, and a third of people may experience muscle and joint pain and chills. Up to 2 in 10 will have a mild fever (<39oC). These are all signs the vaccine is working. Rarely, people may also experience some swollen glands, similar to when they have a regular cold or flu. 

It should be noted that the side effects of the mRNA COVID vaccines are similar to the side effects felt after shingles or tetanus vaccines, but are probably a bit worse than the annual flu shot. The side effects are stronger in younger people and after the second dose. One strategy is to schedule a COVID vaccine at the end of the work week so the side effects happen during a planned break.

Sustainability Office offers Sustainability Certificate

A message from the Sustainability Office

The Sustainability Office is excited to offer the Sustainability Certificate once again to all University employees for the upcoming winter 2021 term. This series is intended to help Waterloo embed sustainability into campus culture, one of the major goals of the University’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy. It includes seven modules that cover key local and global sustainability issues, what the University is doing, and tools and resources for employees to integrate sustainability into their own departments, homes, and beyond.

Sessions will be held remotely through Microsoft Teams, and registration will be managed through Workday. For a list of session dates and more information, please visit the Sustainability Certificate webpage.

The Sustainability Office has also launched an asynchronous version of the series on LEARN to support independent learning. The course will include the same content as existing sessions, but learners will complete in-course quizzes and reflections in the place of group discussions and activities. Employees can access the course under the Self Registration tab on LEARN and register using their WatIAM credentials. Please note that, at this time, employees can’t mix and match sessions from each stream.

Winter schedule for Campus Wellness workshops and therapy groups

A message from Campus Wellness

Campus Wellness will be hosting workshops and group therapy virtually again for the Winter 2021 term. Attending a therapy group, or workshop from Counselling Services can be one of the best ways to enhance your personal success at University of Waterloo. Counselling Services groups and workshops provide you with the opportunity to learn skills to help you cope with life's challenges. 

The groups and workshops that will be available in the Winter 2021 term include:

• Zen Out: Learning Mindfulness to Ease Depression
• Unhook from Anxiety: Learning Skills to Let Go of Fear and Anxious Thoughts
• Mastering Low Mood
• Grad Student Community and Conversation Circle
• Skills for Safer Living
• Alleviating Anxiety

For more information about these therapy groups and workshops, see our Groups and Workshops page.