All California State University students, faculty and staff that will be on campus must get the COVID-19 booster before the spring semester, CSU officials announced Wednesday, Dec. 22.
The spring semester starts in January and the CSU will require students to get the booster by Feb. 28, 2022 or six months after a the final dose of the original vaccine, whichever is later, according to a statement. Campuses can also establish an earlier date for students and non-union employees based on local COVID-19 requirements.
“Vaccination, including a booster when eligible, remains our most effective strategy against infection and severe disease,” said CSU Chancellor Joseph Castro in a statement. “This is particularly important in light of the rapid rise of cases of COVID-19 throughout the state and nation as the Omicron variant spreads.”
The move comes as COVID-19 cases surge across the state and nation once again, with the Omicron variant accounting for the majority of new infections. To curb the spread of infection, California recently announced a new mask mandate and on Tuesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom said all healthcare workers in California would have to get their booster.
Also this week, the University of California school system announced some UC schools will pivot to online learning for two weeks after the winter break.
And the CSU’s decision comes after spokeswoman Toni Molle said in a Tuesday, Dec. 21, statement that the university would not change its winter plans.
Students and employees can seek medical and religious exemptions, the CSU statement said, and union employees won’t be subject to the requirement until the school and unions can meet.
“Implementing the booster requirement now will help mitigate the potential spread of the variant on campuses as they repopulate in January after the winter break,” Castro’s statement added.