Rutgers Announces Vaccination Requirement for Students Attending Fall Classes

Rutgers University in New Jersey will require enrolling students to be vaccinated against the coronavirus disease before attending classes scheduled to resume by fall. The university has received approval from the state government to administer vaccines for students, staff, and faculty once they’re available.

Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway along with other university leaders made the announcement last Thursday; stating that those who plan to attend classes this fall will be required to show proof of vaccination. The action makes the university the first in the country to require coronavirus vaccinations.

According to the university officials, they have made the decision to require the vaccination because of the federal government’s guarantee that by early summer, there will be enough supply of vaccines for all Americans. Rutgers administrators and officials believe that the prerequisite will enable the university campus to revert back to pre-pandemic normal by next school year.

Exemptions From Vaccination Will be Allowed for Religious and Medical Reasons

The university advised that those ages below 18 will be receiving the Pfizer, a vaccine approved and recommended for age 16 and above. Furthermore, those who wish not to get vaccinated have the right to request an exemption for religious or medical reasons. Vaccination will not be required for students taking classes online.

University Health Official Give Assurance on Safety of the Vaccine

Chancellor of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences and executive VP for Health Affairs, Brian Storm, believes that vaccination is the key for bringing back the activities and campus instruction to what they have been used to prior to the pandemic. He also gave assurance that the vaccines have been proven safe and effective in keeping the infection fro becoming serious to prevent hospitalization and death. .