With the nation still in the midst of a pandemic, some higher learning institutions are requiring either a specific segment or all of its campus population to be vaccinated against COVID-19 before returning to school this fall.
Valparaiso University will require all students, faculty, and staff to be vaccinated. The university will accommodate documented medical or religious exemptions.
“Valparaiso University holds the health and safety of our campus as our highest priority,” said José D. Padilla, J.D., university president. “As we look to provide our students the optimal college experience and learning environment, the university will continue to follow the guidance of local and national health experts (because) a vaccinated campus is the safest and most effective way to accomplish our objective of in-person instruction this fall.”
Valparaiso isn’t the only Indiana college requiring some portion of its campus population to be vaccinated. DePauw University, Holy Cross College, Saint Mary’s College and the University of Notre Dame, all private colleges, are requiring all of its students to be vaccinated for their respective fall semesters but not staff, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education.
COVID-19 vaccinations are available in Indiana at no cost to anyone 16 or older. Valparaiso University’s Student Health Center has ordered vaccines to administer to students, and they will be notified when appointments open.
Valparaiso University also requires enrolled students to be immunized for measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus and meningitis, and last fall required all students to receive the flu vaccine.
Purdue University Northwest does not plan to require COVID-19 vaccinations as students return to in-person learning and on-campus experiences for the fall semester, said Kris Falzone, associate vice chancellor marketing and communications at PNW.
She said PNW encourages students, faculty and staff to be vaccinated to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.
PNW has offered COVID-19 vaccine clinics at its Hammond and Westville campuses and partnered with HealthLinc to make them available to students, faculty and staff through HealthLinc’s Michigan City clinic, Falzone said.
Clinics organized or sponsored by PNW provided approximately 1,500 first-dose vaccines to students, faculty, staff and members of the greater NWI community between April 13 and April 22, she said. Second doses were scheduled to be administered in May for those who received their first dose during the April vaccination opportunities.
Marisa Villalobos, a spokesperson for Indiana University Northwest, said IUN is considering requiring vaccinations before returning for its fall semester but has not made a final decision.
Chuck Carney, director of media relations for Indiana University, said IU, also has made no decision. IUN is part of the Indiana University system.
Through May 9, the state of Indiana’s website dedicated to the pandemic, reported there have been 729,716 positive cases in the state and 13,003 deaths since it began tracking more than a year ago.
More than 10 million tests have been administered, the state reported. Nearly 4.6 million doses of the vaccine have been administered throughout the state and more than 2.1 million Indiana residents have been fully vaccinated.
