|
|
Update on COVID-19 Booster and Flu Shot Requirements
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dear Students,
Congratulations on completing your Fall 2022 semester! You all deserve a restful semester break.
The University recently reviewed the updated Indiana Department of Health, the Porter County Department of Health, and the CDC’s recommendations and guidance as it relates to the COVID-19 endemic. Based on this information and current information, the University is not mandating any additional vaccination requirements as it relates to COVID-19 or the flu at this time. Our existing current vaccination requirements remain active and enforced. As you know, issues of public health can be very dynamic, so as situations or conditions may change, the University may revisit this and change its directives accordingly to protect our campus community.
While the University is not requiring additional COVID-19 vaccination requirements nor the flu shot, we are very strongly encouraging you to get both the COVID-19 booster and the annual flu shot during the semester break. We have observed our campus community is most at risk when our students, faculty, and staff have been exposed to people outside our Valpo community over breaks, because outside populations’ vaccination rates are so much lower than ours. Therefore, we want to mitigate the effects of that exposure upon reentry to campus in January. Getting the most recent COVID-19 booster, the flu shot, and testing for COVID-19 via an at home test prior to returning to campus, are the best ways to minimize our community’s risk to each other and make sure we minimize any spread of illness that could impact our fellow Beacons.
The University is working with the Porter County Health department to host COVID-19 booster and flu shot clinics in January (any upcoming booster clinics will be announced via email). Booster and flu shots are readily available now with little to no out-of-pocket cost at all major pharmacies such as Walgreens, CVS, and retail pharmacies like Walmart, Target, and Mejier. Eligible individuals can visit specific pharmacy websites to schedule an appointment or visit https://www.vaccines.gov/ for a complete list of options in your area.
Students already eligible for a COVID-19 booster and flu shots should make every effort to complete this during the semester break period while away from campus in order to best protect themselves and help us all start the second semester as safely as possible. As an incentive, students who complete the recommended COVID-19 booster and/or flu shots, and submit those vaccination records via the Valpo Vaccine Verification portal (https://secure.medproctor.com/Account/SignIn) by January 20, 2023, will be entered into a drawing for the following prizes: a Nintendo Switch, several Beats Headphones, and an Apple IPad. If you already have submitted your booster and flu shot information between August and December of this Fall semester (2022), then you are already entered into the drawing!
Our protocols and 95% vaccination rate have resulted in a successful fall semester in which our positive case counts remained very low, and we have been able to remain in-person and return to all normal academic and student life programs. Thank you for your continued cooperation and getting boosters and flu shots. We hope you have a safe, relaxing, and renewing semester break, and we look forward to seeing you in January.
Sincerely,
The Student Life Staff
| |
|
|
|
|
