Wesleyan University in Middletown will require all students to receive a coronavirus vaccine before returning to campus in the fall, making it the first school in Connecticut to do so.
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Wesleyan University to require COVID-19 vaccine before students arrive in the fall, first Connecticut school to do so
By
AMANDA BLANCO
HARTFORD COURANT |
APR 13, 2021 AT 10:12 AM
Wesleyan University in Middletown will require students to receive the coronavirus vaccine before they return to campus in the fall. (Joe Mabel // Wikimedia Commons)
Wesleyan University in Middletown will require all students to receive a coronavirus vaccine before arriving to campus in the fall, making it the first school in Connecticut to do so.
“Every student (with the exception of those who have approved medical or religious exemptions) will need to verify with the University that they are fully vaccinated prior to their arrival,” school officials said in a statement Monday evening. Staff and faculty are “highly encouraged” to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
“With all students fully vaccinated before Arrival Day in the fall, our campus community will be closer to achieving much-desired herd immunity,” the university said. “This will also improve our chances of enjoying a more ‘normal’ semester.”
In a recent blog post, Wesleyan President Michael Roth said: “We must remain vigilant and strive to limit opportunities for virus transmission, but we can also see in the not-so-distant future a return to campus life of supportive intimacy rather than social distancing. It isn’t here yet, but with lots of hard work, cooperation, and some good luck, we should get there.”
While several schools in nearby states — including Rutgers University in New Jersey, Brown University in Rhode Island and Northeastern University in Massachusetts — have already made it clear that students must be fully vaccinated before they return next fall, Connecticut schools have so far been hesitant to say the same. Most schools, such as UConn, are strongly encouraging members of the school community to get the shots, but they’ve stopped short of definitively saying students cannot return next fall without being fully vaccinated.
Wesleyan said Monday that nearly 2,000 students had signed up to receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine April 24-25, with help from the local Community Health Center. In an update Tuesday morning, the university said it was working with the provider to use other vaccine brands due to the FDA review of the Johnson & Johnson shot, and further details would be provided later on.
“Students who are currently studying remotely, on leave this semester, or unable to participate in the clinic for any reason, as well as for incoming new students, should consult local guidelines for the most up-to-date information about when and how to obtain a vaccination,” school officials said.
They added: “By social distancing, wearing face coverings, and frequently testing, among other actions, our campus community has consistently logged COVID positivity rates that are significantly lower than state and national rates. As more of us are vaccinated, we believe these relatively low rates will continue, but we must not let our guard down.”
This article has been updated to include new information regarding the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
