COVID-19 Vaccines Required For UH Students This Fall
The university will also be initiating discussions with unions that represent聽UH聽employees about possibly requiring vaccination.
The University of聽Hawaii聽System on Monday announced that it is adding a COVID-19 vaccination to its student health clearance requirements beginning in the fall 2021 semester.
鈥淎s with existing health clearance requirements, students will be able to request exemptions for medical and religious reasons,鈥 according to a聽聽鈥淢ore detailed information will be made available in the coming months as implementation plans are finalized.鈥
To be on any UH campus, students must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
As well, UH said the vaccine requirement will take effect only after at least one of the three COVID-19 vaccines currently under emergency use authorization has been approved and fully licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, something that UH said is 鈥渁nticipated this summer.鈥
UH has聽聽students across 10 campuses statewide.
鈥淚t is clear that a vaccinated campus is a safer campus for everyone, and a fully vaccinated student community enables the best opportunity for a healthy return to high-quality face-to-face teaching, learning and research,鈥 said聽UH聽President聽David Lassner. 鈥淭his decision does not come lightly, and is based on guidance from our own Health and Well-Being Working Group as well as the American College Health Association recommendation that all on-campus college students be required to be vaccinated.鈥
International students can satisfy UH鈥檚 vaccine requirement with a vaccine that has been authorized under the World Health Organizations鈥檚 emergency use listing, according to Lassner, who later spoke at a press conference.
The university will also be initiating formal discussions with the three unions that represent UH employees about possibly requiring COVID-19 vaccination.
Officials have not yet decided whether or not to require faculty and staff to be vaccinated.
The University of California and California State University are among many colleges and universities now requiring COVID-19 vaccinations 鈥渋n some form鈥 for the start of the 2021-22 academic year, according to聽.
UH鈥檚 health clearance requirements for students currently include a聽TB聽clearance and immunizations for Measles Mumps, Rubella (MMR) and Tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis and Varicella. Meningococcal Conjugate vaccinations are also required for first-year students living in on-campus housing.
For more information, click here to access聽聽regarding the new requirement.
Civil Beat reporter Blaze Lovell contributed to this report.
