Princeton University has joined a list of universities nationwide that are requiring students to get vaccinated or show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination as they return to campus starting this fall.
Both undergraduate and graduate students enrolled during the 2021-22 academic year will need to provide proof of receiving a final dose, whether it is a two-dose vaccine or single dose, by Aug. 1, according to the university.
The students would upload their COVID-19 vaccination record through an online portal.
“Medical and religious exemptions from the vaccination requirement will be granted in accordance with the university’s reasonable accommodation policies and legal requirements,” the university said in a statement released April 20.
A decision by the university has not been made on whether the university will require faculty, and staff to provide proof of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine for the upcoming academic year. The university did state that it highly recommends vaccinations for all university employees.
Princeton University joins a growling list of colleges and universities requiring their students to receive COVID-19 vaccinations. In the Ivy League, Yale University, Columbia University, Brown University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College and Princeton University have announced that they will require students to be vaccinated, according to the statement.
Princeton University also follows Rutgers University and Fairleigh Dickinson University announcements.
“We are committed to health and safety for all members of our community, and adding COVID-19 vaccination to our student immunization requirements will help provide a safer and more robust college experience for our students,” Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway said in a statement on March 25.
Rowan University will be one of the schools in the state that will not require vaccines for students this upcoming fall.
According to the CDC, as of April 20, 86.2 million Americans have been fully vaccinated. A total of 133.2 million people have received at least one dose.
Also as of April 20, New Jersey’s vaccination data showcases 2.57 million people being vaccinated and 3.87 million people receiving at least one dose. More than 6.2 million total vaccine doses have been administered so far.