UVM to require COVID-19 booster shots for in-person students

All UVM students are required to receive COVID-19 boosters, according to a Dec. 22 email from Patricia Prelock, provost and senior vice president, and Gary Derr, vice president for operations and public safety. 

Students must receive booster vaccinations by Feb. 1, according to the email. Those who are not yet eligible by that time will be required to get boosters within 14 days of becoming eligible. Exceptions to the requirement include students with approved medical or religious exemptions.

“We have watched the Omicron variant take hold rapidly in the U.S.,” said Derr, in a Dec. 22 press release. “Medical experts in Vermont and elsewhere agree that the best way to keep our campus healthy is to maximize the protection of our students with boosters as quickly as we can.”

While symptoms appear to be mild for vaccinated individuals, Omicron is likely more transmissible than other known variants of COVID-19, according to the email. 

The University’s data indicate 95% of UVM students are eligible for the booster shots, and many have already received it, according to the email. 

Fully remote students outside of Chittenden County can also apply for exemption, according to the email. In-person exempted students must test every seven days and continue to wear masks in all on-campus indoor spaces even if UVM’s indoor mask mandate is reversed. 

During the fall semester, UVM had a 100% compliance rate with its COVID-19 vaccination requirement, according to the email. 

“In the event that we see upticks in cases, we will take the necessary steps to protect everyone to the best of our ability,” Derr said. “For now, our goal is to keep UVM healthy physically and mentally by practicing smart community behaviors like getting boosters, masking indoors, and testing frequently.” 

Four steps for updating your COVID-19 booster information, according to the email:

1. Log in to https://mywellbeing.uvm.edu with your NetID. 
2. Click the “Enter My COVID-19 Vaccination Information” button on the main screen.
3. Click “Upload” to add a picture/image/pdf of your COVID-19 vaccination/booster documentation.
4. If you are only adding a booster, you do not need to enter a date, just upload an image of your updated vaccination card.