OREM, Utah, Aug. 30, 2021 (Gephardt Daily) — Utah Valley University is the latest local institution of learning to announce it will adopt a COVID-19 vaccination requirement for students.
“After careful consideration and discussion with state and local leaders and healthcare professionals, Utah Valley University (UVU) will join universities in Salt Lake, Weber, and Cache counties in requiring COVID-19 vaccines for students for the spring semester,” the University said in a statement released Monday.
Universities to announce a vaccination requirement (with some allowable exceptions) for spring term are the University of Utah, Utah State University and Weber State University.
“We are working to develop a plan aimed at reducing infection and hospitalization rates in our county and state while acknowledging exemptions for personal, religious, and medical reasons,” the UVU statement says.
USHE’s guidance on vaccines does not include faculty and staff currently, the statement said, “however, discussions are ongoing at the state level. Meanwhile, we strongly encourage all staff and faculty to get vaccinated. We will be providing more information about the new health requirement plans later this week.
“As a campus community, we are grateful for your collective efforts to help us return to in-person instruction safely. We have felt great energy and excitement as we have opened for fall semester. We are also pleased with the steady flow of students coming to our free vaccination clinic. We encourage our students, staff, and faculty to be vigilant in wearing masks — particularly in our classrooms and other indoor venues.
“Amid the ever-changing environment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to appreciate the exceptional care that has been exemplified by our UVU campus community. This care has been seen in countless ways, but especially in the flexibility, empathy, sacrifice, and compassion you have shown for one another.”
