COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination Information

University of Waterloo's Coronavirus Website

The University of Waterloo provides a Coronavirus website which provides extensive information to ensure your safety when you visit our campus community. We recommend you visit this webpage for the most up-to-date and expert information about COVID-19 at UWaterloo and information about testing, rapid screening, and vaccinations.

Visit our Entering Canada and Quarantine Information webpage to learn more about what you need to know if you are coming to Canada.

Requirements Coming to Campus

Masks and other face coverings

To help limit the spread of COVID-19, you are required to wear a face mask or other appropriate face covering in all common indoor spaces on the University of Waterloo campus, including Renison.

All employees, students, visitors and contractors are required to wear a face covering in common use areas of University buildings. This includes corridors, lobbies, washrooms, elevators, classrooms, teaching laboratories and meeting rooms, or in any area where physical distancing is a challenge.

Learn about face covering requirements online.

Campus Check-in

As part of our safe return to campus, we have developed a tool called Campus Check-In that will help monitor campus building occupancy levels both within buildings and within departments.

Reviewed by the Region of Waterloo Public Health, and available to all students, employees, and visitors, Campus Check-In will allow us to meet guidelines from the Government of Canada for post-secondary institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic

You can choose to log your attendance in campus buildings using the automatic or manual recording options. Learn more on the Campus Check-in webpage. We recommend you use the automatic recording option that will record your check-in when you are connected to Eduroam (our campus Wi-Fi). Any personal device (i.e. phone, tablet, laptop) you connect to the campus Wi-Fi will automatically record your username, building access point (location), and time of connection.

Before coming to campus

• Complete the COVID-19 screening questions using the Campus Check-In Tool before arriving on campus each day. The provincial self-assessment tool is also still available if you have symptoms and need more detailed screening.
• We also strongly recommend that you download and use COVID Alert, the federal COVID-19 app.

Vaccinations Required to Live in Residence

COVID-19 vaccinations are not mandatory to study at Renison University College or the University of Waterloo. 

Renison University College, along with the University of Waterloo and its affiliated University Colleges received guidance from the Medical Officer of Health for the Region of Waterloo that strongly recommended making vaccination a requirement of living in residence. In response to this new guidance, all University of Waterloo residences, including those at Renison, will now require that students living in our residences for the 2021-2022 academic year be vaccinated against COVID-19. 

If you plan to live in Renison Residence this year, we encourage you to visit the COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements webpage for more information. If you plan to live in University of Waterloo's Campus Housing, visit their Fall 2021 webpage.

COVID-19 Testing Assessment Centre 

The University of Waterloo's Health Services department offers a COVID-19 Testing Assessment Centre. The Assessment Centre is open and testing is available by appointment only. Testing is available to University students, employees and postdocs and family members (one year and older) living in the same household.

Register for an appointment online. 

Once registered online, you will be contacted with an appointment date and time. Please do not book an appointment if you are asymptomatic (do not have symptoms). Health Services will not book appointments over the phone or via email. No walk-in services available - you must have an appointment.

To be eligible for testing you must have at least one of the following:

• Be showing COVID-19 symptoms (sneezing, coughing, shortness of breath, fever, sore throat, etc.)
• Have been exposed to a confirmed case and informed by a Public Health representative or through the COVID-19 App
• Are eligible for testing as part of a targeted testing initiative directed by the ministry of health or ministry of long-term care. Ontario Health will continue to notify assessment centres of targeted testing

Please note: Health Services will not be providing testing for outbound travel if you require a test to return to your home country. All outbound testing can be completed at private labs and test sites. An example of an outbound test provider is Shopper's Drug Mart.

COVID-19 Vaccine Centre

The University of Waterloo's Health Services is hosting a COVID-19 Vaccine Centre in the Health Services building. Health Services will be offering the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine to all students, employees, and family members (18 and older) of students and employees. You must be COVID symptom-free and have completed the daily campus screening to attend a clinic to be vaccinated. Moderna is a mRNA vaccine that requires two doses 28 days apart. 

Clinics are running Monday to Friday from 9am - 12pm each day (closed for statutory holidays). 

If you are unsure if you can receive a vaccine, please book an appointment with a Clinitian at Health Services by calling 519-888-4096 to discuss these concerns prior to booking an appointment to be vaccinated. 

If you received your first dose outside of Ontario, please make sure to report it on the Out of Province COVID Immunization Form before you receive your second dose.

Appointment Information

Booking Appointment:

Call 519-888-4096 to book your appointment.

Be prepared to provide the following information:

• Full Legal name
• Student ID #
• Address (including postal code)
• Telephone number
• UW email address
• Your health insurance information (UHIP info or Provincial Health Card)
• Your current vaccination status and type of vaccination you received (unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, etc.).
  • If you are unsure of your vaccination status (i.e.: received vaccination in another country or are unsure if you are able to receive a vaccine), please contact Public Health at 519-574-4400 or see link.

Day of Appointment:

• Arrive no more than 5 minutes before your appointment time
• You will be screened upon entry to the Health Services building (please rebook your appointment if you are feeling unwell) and asked to change your mask
• Please bring your identification and your proof of health insurance coverage with you (Provincial health card or UHIP card)
• You will be required to reconfirm your registration information
• Vaccines are administered by a Health Services medical professional
• A mandatory waiting period of 15-30 minutes is required after you receive your vaccine
• You will be provided with proof of your vaccination prior to departure or via email if you prefer
• Please call within a few days to book your second dose appointment if required

Health Services

Health Services is conveniently located between Renison and the Student Life Centre (SLC). They provide medical services to University of Waterloo students residing in Ontario. Currently, they are home to the University's COVID-19 Testing Centre and Vaccine Centre. Students can make appointments by phone at 519-888-4096.

Identification and proof of health insurance coverage (UHIP card or Provincial health card) are required at each appointment.

Hours of opperation:
Monday: 8:30am - 7:30pm
Tuesday to Friday: 8:30am - 4:30pm
Saturday and Sunday: Closed