Nearly 100% of students, faculty and staff at Western are vaccinated, officials say

Western University and its affiliated colleges say that nearly all of its staff, students and faculty are vaccinated against the novel coronavirus. 

Health officials say vaccination is one of the key ways to keep COVID-19 infection rates down, including the delta variant. 

The university released the following numbers: 

• 99 per cent of students in residence are vaccinated
• 98 per cent of students on campus are vaccinated
• 97 per cent of staff and faculty are vaccinated

Western, as well as Brescia, Huron, and King's university colleges, mandated vaccines for anyone coming on campus on August 26. So far, 46,000 people have provided proof of vaccination. 

"These results are extraordinary. They speak to the strong commitment of our students, staff and faculty, along with a shared recognition of the importance of having a highly vaccinated campus," officials wrote in a statement. 

"We continue to receive proof of vaccination from members of the campus community. Those who have not yet submitted vaccination status are not permitted to be on campus and are required to provide their information as soon as possible."

The high vaccination rates are a bit of good news for the university and its administrators which on Tuesday — a day before classes even began — had to tell students to stop partying or risk the school year if COVID cases spike. 

The warning came after the university held a large concert on campus and after videos of hundreds of partying students were posted to social media.