June 9, 2021 – Student: Additional guidance for university COVID-19 vaccination requirement
Dear students,
As announced last month, COVID-19 vaccinations will be required for all members of the Vanderbilt University community for the fall 2021 semester. Today I am sharing additional guidance on the student COVID-19 vaccination requirement.
New and returning students are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for the 2021–22 academic school year. The requirement applies to all undergraduate, graduate and professional students this fall, and it will be handled in a manner consistent with other university policies governing student vaccine requirements.
You can request accommodations for medical exemptions through the Student Access office and religious exemptions through the Equal Opportunity and Access office. Accommodation requests should be submitted by June 15. Please note that an approved accommodation generally does not mean you will be permitted to participate in classes online. Rather, it means you will be approved to attend in person with appropriate accommodations, which will likely include wearing a mask and following physical distancing guidelines wherever possible.
You must submit your vaccination record to the university’s vaccine tracker submission form, even if you received your vaccine from Student Health, VUMC or a VUMC clinic, no later than one week in advance of the first day of class of your fall academic program. If you do not submit your vaccination record or have an approved (or in-process) accommodation request on file by the deadline, a hold will be placed on your course registration. Your enrollment at the university may be cancelled for the semester if you are not compliant.
Specific guidance for international students: If a World Health Organization approved COVID-19 vaccination is not available in your home country before returning to campus, we will work with you to receive a COVID-19 vaccination once you arrive in Nashville. Student Health will have the Johnson & Johnson one-dose COVID-19 vaccination available, and you can receive your vaccination when you get to campus. Consistent with CDC guidance, you should only perform essential activities, masking and physical distance for seven days after travel.
We are working diligently to finalize protocols for the fall semester, including those for student housing and assistance for international students. I will be sharing those details with you as they are completed, so please regularly check your email throughout the summer.
Thank you.
G.L. Black