Further to the announcement that vaccine will be mandatory for all players 12+ , OWHA has released their Vaccine Policy.
We ask that you PLEASE REVIEW THE DOCUMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY.
OWHA VACCINE POLICY - RELEASED OCT 4
Some key points from the policy are:
1. Policy Statement
This Policy applies to the OWHA and its Members. The OWHA requires that all Affected Persons be Fully Vaccinated against COVID-19 in accordance with this Policy as a condition of participating in any Sanctioned Activities during the 2021-2022 hockey season.
At the present, this Policy does not apply to players born after 2009 but may be subject to change at any time. Public health guidance on measures for Fully Vaccinated, partially vaccinated, and unvaccinated individuals continue to evolve and could affect this Policy in the future.
The OWHA reserves the right to amend this Policy in response to any new guidance received from or regulations passed by federal, provincial and local public health and governmental authorities with respect to COVID-19.
This Policy is effective immediately.
4. Vaccination Requirement
Each Affected Person is required to be Fully Vaccinated (including the 14-day period after receiving their completed dose) by November 1, 2021 or earlier.
Each Affected Person must present to the OWHA or to their OWHA Member, as applicable, evidence demonstrating that they have received the completed series of an Accepted COVID19 Vaccine by October 17, 2021 or earlier.
* We are asking that our players show their vaccine records to their coaches. We would ask that this be done anytime between now and Oct 16th.
6. Medical Exemptions
In accordance with the Ontario Ministry of Health’s ‘Proof of Vaccination Guidance for Businesses and Organizations under the Reopening Ontario Act’, the OWHA provide accommodation to any Affected Person who is unable to be vaccinated for substantiated medical reasons.
The OWHA reserves the right to have accommodation medical documentation reviewed by an OWHA designated medical specialist.
Any Affected Person who is granted accommodation must undergo regular COVID-19 testing (at their own cost and expense) and must provide evidence to the President or designate of the OWHA or the President or designate of the OWHA Member, as applicable, or someone designated by that President, of a negative test taken not more than 48 hours prior to participating in any Sanctioned Activity.
Any Affected Person who wants to begin the accommodation request process should visit this link to access the OWHA Medical Exemption Request form:
*Affected persons seeking exemption - must fill out the forms. The Wolverines designate is Jennifer Stewart - President.
8. Unvaccinated Affected Persons
After October 17, 2021, any Affected Person who is not Fully Vaccinated (excluding the 14-day period after receiving their completed dose) or who has not been granted an accommodation in accordance with Section 6 of this Policy, will no longer be eligible to participate in any Sanctioned Activities until such time as they have presented satisfactory evidence that they have been Fully Vaccinated (including the 14-day period after receiving their completed dose) or have been granted an accommodation.
* Any affected person who has not provided proof of full vaccination by end of the day on October 16th - will be released.
9. Players born in 2010 or later
At the present time, no vaccines have been approved by Health Canada for children born in 2010 or later. However, once such a COVID-19 vaccine has been approved, the OWHA will reevaluate this Policy and consider whether or not to extend the definition of Vaccine-Eligible Players to include players born in those years.
Further, at the present time, any player born in 2010, and who has begun the 2021/2022 OWHA season ineligible because of their age to receive an Accepted COVID-19 Vaccine, will not be required to complete their series of an Accepted COVID-19 Vaccine to finish the season.
For those seeking medical exemption I do recommend you reach out as soon as possible to get the info you will need to complete your forms and to get off to OWHA as soon as possible for consideration.
We know these are trying times for everyone and remind you that we do not make the rules, however as an organization governed under the OWHA we must adhere to the policies before us.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Jennifer Stewart
Keene Wolverines President