“Getting a vaccine against the virus that causes COVID-19 is an important step people can take to protect themselves, their friends and family, and our campus communities, while ending the pandemic,” said Dr. Michael Drake, President of the University of California. Damian Dovarganes / AP Hide caption
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Damian Dovarganes / AP
“Getting a vaccine against the virus that causes COVID-19 is an important step people can take to protect themselves, their friends and family, and our campus communities, while ending the pandemic,” said Dr. Michael Drake, President of the University of California.
Damian Dovarganes / AP
The systems at California State University and the University of California announced Thursday that students and staff returning to face-to-face classes at all 33 locations must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
The new directive will come into effect once the Food and Drug Administration grants “full approval” to a COVID-19 vaccine. The Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna shots currently hugging people’s arms only have one Emergency approval.
CSU Chancellor Joseph Castro said the two higher education systems enroll and employ more than 1 million students and employees, calling the policy “the most comprehensive and consistent university plan for COVID-19 vaccines in the country”.
“Getting a vaccine against the virus that causes COVID-19 is an important step people can take to protect themselves, their friends and family, and our campus communities, while ending the pandemic,” said Dr. Michael Drake, President of the University of California, in the joint statement.
University leaders said the timing of the announcement is intended to give students, faculties and other staff ample time to get vaccinated before the fall semester begins. Both UC and Cal State have said schools will mainly prepare for personal lessons and activities this fall.
Students need to update vaccination records at their respective universities, as well as for other infectious diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox. Medical exceptions or approved exceptions must be clarified prior to arriving on campus as per the latest notice.
Universities across the country have faced similar decisions as they plan to resume face-to-face tuition and vaccine availability has become more widespread. From April 19th all states in the USA offer vaccinations for people aged 16 and over.
