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To: Faculty and Staff
Subject: COVID-19 Booster Shot Requirement
From: Eric Johnson, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Darron Farha, Vice President and General Counsel
Dear Colleagues,
During the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, the University has made decisions based on the best information available in a difficult and dynamic environment. The priority is keeping our students, employees, and campus safe. The recent emergence of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 and the increasing infection rates from the Delta variant further emphasize the importance of vaccinations and booster shots. According to the best available medical evidence, vaccinations are the most effective defense against serious COVID-19 illness and its spread. On Monday, November 29, 2021, the CDC significantly intensified recommendations on COVID-19 boosters for those 18 years and older.
Based on these recommendations, and in the interest of maintaining your safety, as well as our ability to continue to hold normal campus operations and programs, the University is requiring all eligible faculty and staff to obtain a COVID-19 vaccine booster by January 17, 2022, in accordance with the eligibility criteria. A person is eligible for a booster shot 6 months after receiving the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine series, or 2 months after a J&J vaccine. If you are diagnosed as COVID-19 positive after being fully vaccinated, you must wait 90 days from your recovery to be eligible for the booster.
Faculty and staff already eligible for a booster shot should make every effort to complete this requirement as soon as possible in order to best protect themselves and help us all start the second semester as healthy as possible. Additionally, the University is evaluating the feasibility of offering an onsite booster clinic. However, we encourage you to not wait for the University to offer this onsite option as this is only in the exploratory phase. Booster shots are readily available now with no out of pocket cost at major pharmacies such as Walgreens, CVS, and retail pharmacies like Walmart and Meijer. Eligible individuals can visit specific pharmacy websites to schedule an appointment or visit https://www.vaccines.gov/ for a complete list of options in the area of your choice. An individual may get either the Pfizer or Moderna booster shot regardless of the type of vaccine received during their initial vaccination. Faculty and staff must upload and document their booster via the same portal used to submit flu shot information at Vaccination Submission Record.
Faculty and staff who have already received an approved University exemption from the initial vaccination requirement will maintain that exemption from receiving the booster shots. Please note that exempted faculty and staff will continue to be required to wear a mask at all times on campus and be subject to regular testing. Faculty and staff who are not eligible for the COVID-19 booster by January 17, 2022 will be required to obtain a booster within 10 days of their eligibility.
We understand you may feel frustrated by yet another requirement. We are all feeling it now two years into the pandemic. Please know that we do not make these decisions arbitrarily, and take this action in the best interest of our campus community’s well-being, and to maintain normalized operations. Your cooperation with all of these requirements is greatly appreciated, and an on-going sign of your commitment to each other and our Valpo campus and community values.
Thank-you for your continued understanding, efforts, and compliance with these necessary steps. We hope you have a safe, relaxing, and renewing holiday.
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