Beginning fall 2021 semester, the University of Hawaii System is requiring all students to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to be able to attend classes and activities on campus.
The UH system has 10 campuses across the islands which includes three universities and seven community colleges. The COVID-19 vaccination health clearance will affect around 50,000 students.
“It 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,” said UH President David Lassner at a press conference.
“This 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.”
The vaccine mandate will only take effect when at least one of the three COVID-19 vaccine currently under emergency use authorization has been fully licensed and approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. It is anticipated to be announced this summer.
Unvaccinated UH students are still welcome to enroll in online courses.
Hawaii Department of Health Director Libby Char said that UH’s decision is a positive step for the university and the state.
“We are hopeful that with the new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and this vaccination requirement in place for students, that by fall we will be able to return to mask-free classrooms without physical distancing requirements,” said Char.
For more details about UH’s vaccination requirements for students, visit hawaii.edu/covid19/vaccinate/requirement-students-faqs/.
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