Will Your School Require You To Be Vaccinated For The Fall?

As more than 787 million vaccine doses have been administered worldwide, a growing number of universities say they will require proof of vaccination before opening their doors again in the fall. Already, Cornell University, Duke University and Brown University have announced that on-campus students will need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 this fall – will your school also require you to get the shot?

Source: Susan Haejin Lee for NPR, Original Article Here

On March 25, Rutgers University in New Jersey became the first to announce that, with limited exceptions, all students planning to attend in-person for the Fall 2021 semester will need to show proof of vaccination. The university quickly pointed to the availability of multiple vaccines, the proven safety and effectiveness of those vaccines, and the “share responsibility” of everyone for the community’s health and safety.

"Encouraging would not have the same effect as a requirement ."

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Rutgers University – Copyright: Spiroview Inc. | Dreamstime.com

In its March 25 announcement, Rutgers University noted several benefits reaped from requiring students to be vaccinated:

a faster return to “pre-pandemic normal”;
additional face-to-face classes and experiences;
a wider range of campus events and activities;
expanded dining and recreation options; and
greater interpersonal collaboration between students, faculty, and staff.

Nothing New Here

American universities have long required vaccinations for infectious diseases. In addition, it is often a requirement for international students coming to the US on a student visa. In a survey of about 100 four-year institutions representing all 50 states and Washington, D.C., nearly all required at least one vaccine for enrollment.

These already-mandated immunizations typically include those for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), bacterial meningitis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella, hepatitis B, and, in some instances, influenza.

Several states have already introduced legislation regarding COVID-19 vaccine mandates in higher education. The new legislation could impose different rights and responsibilities, including broader exemptions for immunization requirements.

Can Universities Require Students to get the COVID-19 vaccine?

The short answer is yes, they can. “Schools are allowed to require vaccinations to protect both the students and teachers. And there are reasons for that,” said Dr. Howard Forman, director of Yale University’s MD/MBA program.

Attorney Renee Mattei Myers recently confirmed to CNBC that colleges and universities are legally able to require students to get the coronavirus vaccine under the most-recent guidance.

Limited Exceptions

Naturally, such a mandate would likely come with exceptions. “Medical and religious exemptions will be accommodated, but the expectation will be that our campuses and classrooms will overwhelmingly consist of vaccinated individuals, greatly reducing the risk of infection for all. Individuals who are not able to obtain vaccination prior to arrival for the fall semester, or whose vaccination is not recognized by New York state, will be expected to be vaccinated as soon after their arrival as possible,” Cornell University said on its website.

One path some schools may take is to only require Covid vaccination for on-campus students. Already, officials at Oakland University, a public university in Rochester, Michigan, said that the vaccine requirement will only apply to students living in campus residence halls and apartments.

International students

One question is what to do about international students, especially those from countries without vaccine availability.

“We can get them vaccinated. We do it ourselves. That’s not a problem.” said Antonio Calcado, who leads Rutgers’ COVID-19 task force. The main challenge, he adds, comes with students who have been vaccinated with something that hasn’t been approved in the U.S., like the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is widely used in the United Kingdom and is the subject of concerns about health risks.

Overall this debate could be soon be settled based on the growing call for a “vaccine passport“. Some countries are pushing ahead either with real vaccine passport plans or allowing vaccinated visitors to skip quarantine requirements for entry. This is already the case for China who launched “the world’s first vaccine passport.”

If there isn’t currently a national vaccine passport for the United States, some states already moved forward with the idea such as New York with the Excelsior Pass, a digital proof of vaccination.

Conclusion

From a public health standpoint there is no doubt that COVID-19 vaccination is essential to help stop the pandemic. From a school standpoint, campus interactions create a unique energy and vibrancy not found anywhere else – so it is crucial for students to return to the in-person interactions to fully enjoy their higher education degree.

However, if mandating the wearing of masks is already too much for some people, it is certain that requiring vaccination will generate some push-back. First from politicians, then from students who will object to the requirement.

For now, many schools are deferring their decision, while several others have said their policy – as of now – is to strongly encourage vaccinations, but not make them a requirement. However, with an increased vaccine supply and confidence in the efficiency of vaccine, this could soon change.