Last week, the California State University (CSU) and University of California (UC) systems both announced that universities under their jurisdiction plan to require any and all faculty, staff, and students that intend to be on campus or use campus facilities this fall to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

The vaccination requirement will allow students or staff to seek medical or religious exemption, but everyone is strongly encouraged to get vaccinated in order to protect themselves and those around them.

“Together, the CSU and UC enroll and employ more than 1 million students and employees across 33 major university campuses, so this is the most comprehensive and consequential university plan for COVID-19 vaccines in the country,” said CSU Chancellor Dr. Joseph I. Castro in the announcement.

The COVID-19 vaccine will not be the only vaccine CSU and UC systems require for students. Currently, unless declared exempt, students must have received the hepatitis B vaccine, the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, the meningococcal conjugate vaccine, the tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine, and the chickenpox vaccine.

Sonoma State University’s (SSU) official statement regarding the impending CSU COVID-19 vaccine requirement states that the university “look[s] forward to more on-campus activity for the Fall 2021 semester, with continued adherence to COVID-19 safety protocols such as wearing face masks, physical distancing, and hand sanitizing. In preparation for fall, we will make every effort to ensure the campus community has access to the vaccine.”

To follow through with their promise of aiding students in their vaccination efforts, SSU released a campus-wide email in which they announced that the university is partnering with RiteAid to host a two-day vaccine clinic on campus this week. 

On April 28 and 29, Seawolves and anyone in the surrounding community can get vaccinated at the clinic, which will be located in the Cooperage between Sauvignon and Verdot Villages. The vaccine is free, and no proof of insurance, county residency, or citizenship is required. Further details about the clinic and how to schedule an appointment are still pending. 

“Currently, we aim to teach over 50 percent of classes in-person, and we will be working to determine whether this vaccine requirement will allow us to increase that percentage. In preparation for fall, we will make every effort to ensure the campus community has access to the vaccine,” the statement in the email read.

Seawolves are anxious to return to a sense of normalcy on campus, and some are lauding the decision to require COVID-19 vaccinations.

“With Sonoma State requiring student vaccines, I couldn’t feel unsafe returning to campus,” said second-year student and biology major Maura Langan.

Langan added, “I feel like it is just another step SSU has taken to ensure student safety and they are really prioritizing the health and education of their students. If Sonoma can allocate vaccines for the students who are unable to get them, it would be another step to show how deeply they care about their student body.”

Although the vaccine requirement has not yet taken effect, it is expected to significantly increase health and safety on campus, and should alleviate concerns for students and staff returning to campus in the fall.