University of Washington to require COVID vaccine for on-campus students
May 3, 2021, 1:24 PM | Updated: 1:33 pm
Red Square and Suzzallo Library on the University of Washington campus, pictured in January 2020. (MyNorthwest photo)
(MyNorthwest photo)
The University of Washington is the latest college to require students on campus to be vaccinated against COVID-19 before autumn quarter.
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The UW made the announcement of its requirement Monday, extending the requirement to students on all three of its campuses in Seattle, Bothell, and Tacoma. This announcement comes with six weeks remaining in spring quarter, which the university says provides students in the area to get vaccinated before summer.
“Widespread vaccination is the only real way we can put the COVID-19 pandemic behind us and return to a more normal way of living, learning and working,” UW President Ana Mari Cauce wrote in a message to the UW community. “Our community is one that cares — about each other and about the state and society we serve. For your health, and for the health of us all, please get vaccinated as soon as you can.”
Students will have to verify that they have been vaccinated before fall quarter unless they are claiming a medical, religious, or philosophical exemption, similar to the UW’s existing tri-campus immunization requirement. If a student can not get vaccinated where they live now, the UW says it will provide vaccinations to students when they get to campus.
For those who are in the Puget Sound area, there are vaccination appointments available now free of charge at mass sites in King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties, and at UW Medicine hospitals. Find a vaccine location near you online here or call 800-525-0127 to get help finding an appointment.
Everyone in the United States age 16 or older is now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.
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Washington State University announced a similar requirement last week, though expanded to include employees and volunteers on campus as well. Pacific Lutheran University and Seattle University are also requiring students to be vaccinated.
