If you have not yet been vaccinated, now is the time to do it. The SUNY Board of Trustees and Gov. Cuomo have announced that students at all SUNY colleges who plan to live, study, use facilities, or work on campus will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as one of the emergency authorized vaccines gains full authorization/approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We anticipate that the FDA will approve at least one of the vaccines soon (Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson).
- We recommend you get vaccinated before the mandate takes effect so you can enjoy a more traditional college experience this fall. Students with proof of vaccination will not be required to wear masks in most circumstances, will not have to participate in regular COVID testing, and will not have to socially distance from others. Unvaccinated students, and those who do not provide proof of vaccination, must wear masks indoors, socially distance from others and participate in weekly testing.
See the vaccine section of Fall Planning webpage to learn how to provide proof of vaccination.
It is also important to consider getting vaccinated prior to returning to campus while you have access to your primary care physician and have time to recover from any side effects
- The vaccines are safe and readily available at pharmacies, health clinics and mass-vaccination sites. Check the CDC or SUNY website to find a vaccination site near you. If you are an international student or currently residing outside of the U.S. and do not have access to one of the vaccines with emergency authorization in the United States, you can receive one of the vaccines approved by the World Health Organization in your current country of residence.
- Do you still have questions about getting vaccinated? It is understandable to have questions about the vaccines. View an informative Q&A video with our college physician, Dr. Todd Bitterman and helpful answers to common questions.
By getting vaccinated now you will help us get back to the things we’ve missed most over the past year and a half, help promote a healthy campus environment and protect yourself, your friends and your community.
The COVID Response Team is also working hard on our fall plan which will contain guidelines on health and safety rules, campus visitors, events, activities and more. Details will be shared soon. In the meantime, check the Fall Planning webpage for the most recent information and frequently asked questions. We are excited to welcome you and your fellow Red Dragons back this fall and thank you for your cooperation during this time.
Sincerely,
Julie Piscitello and Richard Lee
COVID Response Team Co-Chairs
