California State University, the nation’s largest public university system, will require students, faculty and staff to get vaccinated against COVID-19 before returning to campus for the fall semester. Medical and religious exemptions will be allowed, and non-inoculated students will have to undergo frequent tests for coronavirus.
The decision announced Tuesday was prompted by the continued growth of the Delta variant throughout California. It came a day after state officials announced that government and healthcare workers would be required to show proof of inoculation, and more than a week after the University of California ordered antigens for students and employees.
Cal State Chancellor Joseph I. Castro previously stated that any vaccination requirement would wait until official federal approval. But the plans changed because the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not indicated whether it will grant approval at the beginning of next semester.
“The FDA has not yet given its full approval and we are nearing the beginning of the academic term. Just as important, the increasing spread of the highly infectious Delta variant really caused a change in perspectives, ”he stressed in an interview with the Times. “We are making sure that, on every campus, we make aggressive efforts to immunize our students, faculty, and staff. Many of our schools had clinics [de vacunación] and others partnered with some organizations. I anticipate that we will continue to improve those efforts. “
The decision to implement a vaccination requirement was unanimous among the 23 university presidents, reported Castro, who also consulted with the teachers’ union, the academic senate and leaders of the California State Student Association.
Student reaction has been largely positive, according to Cal State Student Association President Isaac Alferos. He commented that the update is aligned with the objectives of the organization to guarantee the health and safety of the students.
“I have heard some concerns that students have had about receiving the antigen. Honestly, I think that is to be expected and is representative of how much work we are going to do next year to help students understand how useful the vaccine can be, ”emphasized Alferos, 21. “This new provision somewhat allows campuses to maintain control over how this inoculation mandate is implemented.”
Cal State’s process will depend largely on trust, spokesman Mike Uhlenkamp said. Students would need to certify that they are fully vaccinated or seeking an exemption and confirm that their answers are accurate and truthful. A campus could independently request an inoculation test as the next step in the initial certification process.
The logistics for the measure are still being worked out and Cal State is still in discussion with the teachers’ union groups.
It is not clear what type of disciplinary action could be taken against someone who does not comply with the requirement, but at this point, the provision includes a warning that any student or employee who does not provide a certification “may be denied access to the campus and programs ”.
All certifications must be completed by September 30, but the deadline may be earlier for some campuses because all 23 colleges do not have the same semester start date.
The number of uninoculated young adults has been a growing concern across the country. About 11.9 million adults ages 18-24 have been fully vaccinated in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), representing about 43% of that group. of population. In California, the state Department of Public Health reported that 99% of COVID-19 infections from January to mid-July occurred among unvaccinated residents.
It’s unclear how many students across the Cal State system have already been immunized, but campuses in regions with lower vaccination rates are expected to have similar rates. Cal State leaders are currently discussing vaccine incentives, such as financial aid and bookstore vouchers, Castro said, as part of ongoing efforts to urge students to be inoculated.
Alferos, an incoming senior at Cal State Fullerton, believes the incentive programs could be beneficial. He will also advocate for the university system to address antigen-related equity issues, as mistrust continues among some communities of color.
Although Cal State will offer more online class options than before the pandemic, it can be difficult for a student to take a fully virtual course load. Castro suggests that any student who wishes to remain unvaccinated, and without exemption, consider virtual options. However, his hope is that most students will opt for the antigen.
“I am very hopeful that all of our students, faculty and staff will be vaccinated,” he stressed.
If you want to read this article in Spanish, Click here.
–
