UCSC to require everyone to have COVID-19 vaccine for fall session
The University of California is doing an about-face and will now require COVID-19 vaccinations for all students, staff and faculty returning to campus in the fall.
“I would say I'm not surprised and I'm not sure a lot of people will like it but you know that's the world we've got to live in I guess and there's always the chance this was going to happen,” said Sasha Crawford who just graduated from UC Santa Cruz but continues to work in the university’s organic garden.
The decision is a change of course after the UC system announced back in April it would only require COVID-19 vaccinations after at least one vaccine got FDA approval. The requirement getting a mixed reaction.
“I feel actually safer if everyone got vaccinated because you lower the risk and want everyone to be safe around the community here even if it's not FDA approved it was approved for emergency use,” said Annyher Reyes a UC Santa Cruz senior.
“I think a lot of people will get vaccinated or have been already but I don't know if laying down the law and saying that they have to is the right move personally,” added Crawford.
The policy will apply to all 10 UC campuses, with exemptions for medical and religious reasons.
A statement by the University of California read in part: "The consultation period recently ended with strong support among faculty and student health physician directors for proceeding now, to maximize the safety of all campuses and ensure sufficient lead time for compliance..."
“We're all trying to fight towards the same goal opening everything back up making sure everything's safe and even though we don't have a guaranteed success of all the vaccines yet it's still a step forward,” said Heryann of Modesto.
As for the California State University system, they’re still planning to wait for full FDA approval of a COVID-19 vaccine before mandating COVID-19 vaccinations.