UC, CSU announce plan to require COVID-19 vaccinations this fall
The University of California and California State University announced a plan Thursday to require COVID-19 vaccinations for all students, faculty and staff who are accessing campus facilities this fall.
The new requirement would go into effect once one of the three vaccines available in the U.S. receives full approval from the FDA.
The universities already strongly encourage students, faculty, academic appointees and staff to voluntarily obtain a vaccination.
“Together, the CSU and UC enroll and employ more than one million students and employees across 33 major university campuses, so this is the most comprehensive and consequential university plan for COVID-19 vaccines in the country,” said CSU Chancellor Joseph I. Castro. “Consistent with previous CSU announcements related to the university’s response to the pandemic, we are sharing this information now to give students, their families and our employees ample time to make plans to be vaccinated prior to the start of the fall term.”
Students who are unable to receive a vaccine before arriving on campus may receive special help from student health centers but special protections may be required, according to UC.
According to the news release from UC, “students planning to access UC campuses for the fall will need to update their immunization documentation on file to indicate vaccination or an approved exception or medical exemption prior to coming on campus.”
CSU said the COVID-19 vaccination requirement would allow for students or employees to seek an exemption based on medical or religious grounds. The policy and related implementation details are under development and will be made available once the consultations have concluded.
