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Return to Learn Weekly, from UC San Diego

September 13, 2022

In Case You Missed It

New Student Vaccination Requirements

Incoming students must comply with the UC COVID Mandate (by being fully vaccinated or requesting an exemption/deferral) by Sept. 22, 2022. Continuing students’ deadline to comply with the UC COVID Mandate was March 1, 2022. Students not compliant with the Mandate may not be physically present on University property or at University events. 
Starting in October, the University will refer students still out of compliance with the Mandate to the student conduct office for an administrative resolution meeting. Additionally, students not compliant by November will have a registration hold placed on their student account, preventing winter course enrollment. Please be advised many student benefits, such as campus housing, student visas, or other benefits, require students to be in good standing or maintain full enrollment status.

New COVID Bivalent Booster Vaccine Now Available

Two new COVID “booster” vaccines are now available. The new Pfizer and Moderna “bivalent” vaccines have been designed to continue to provide protection from the originally circulating SARS-CoV-2 virus while adding protection from the newer omicron strains (BA.4 and BA.5) that circulate today. We strongly recommend getting vaccinated as soon as possible (if you have not been vaccinated) and remaining up to date with booster vaccines in order to protect yourself, loved ones and family members, and our campus and health communities.
Important note: To ensure the best immune response to the vaccine and to minimize side effects, it is recommended that persons who have recently contracted COVID-19 wait at least two months before getting the bivalent booster. 

Fall 2022 Instructional Update

Most fall courses will be taught in-person. The Academic Senate did not issue a limited-term exception to the Policy on Distance Education Courses for the 2022-23 academic year, which means that any course without an R designation must be primarily in person. The current policy allows for up to 49 percent of instruction of non-R courses, not including office hours, to be taught remotely. Please note the Teaching + Learning Commons’ Engaged Teaching Hub offers a wealth of resources and teaching strategies that support student learning and inclusive teaching. Learn more about fall instruction. 

Upcoming Town Halls

Staff Town Hall

Tuesday, Oct. 4 at 1 p.m.
A row of generic COVID-19 vaccine bottles.

In the News

WIRED: How Does a Variant-Specific Covid Booster Work?

This week new booster shots are rolling out across the U.S. and Europe, updated mRNA vaccines that are specifically tailored to the Omicron variants currently circulating. Health officials believe these will offer better protection against the newer versions of SARS-CoV-2 than earlier shots. “Over time, the virus has progressively evolved, so it looks less and less like the virus that started in the human population,” says Robert Schooley, professor of infectious diseases at the UC San Diego School of Medicine. Read the full article on how variant-specific boosters work.

Your Questions Answered

Question: What is a bivalent vaccine?
Answer: Also referred to as an “updated booster,” the FDA-authorized Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent boosters include:
  • An mRNA component of the original strain that provides an immune response that is broadly protective against COVID-19. 
  • An mRNA component in common between the omicron variant BA.4 and BA.5 lineages to provide better protection against COVID-19 caused by the omicron variant.
According to the FDA, the BA.4 and BA.5 lineages of the Omicron variant are currently causing most cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and are predicted to circulate this fall and winter. In June, the agency’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee voted overwhelmingly to include an omicron component in COVID-19 booster vaccines.
Learn more from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration web page.
Question: Who is eligible to receive a single booster dose and when?
Answer: Eligibility depends on which vaccine you receive. 
Moderna: Individuals 18 years of age and older are eligible for a single booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent if it has been at least two months since they have completed primary vaccination or have received the most recent booster dose with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine.
Pfizer: Individuals 12 years of age and older are eligible for a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent if it has been at least two months since they have completed primary vaccination or have received the most recent booster dose with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine.
Important note: To ensure the best immune response to the vaccine and to minimize side effects, it is recommended that persons who have recently contracted COVID-19 wait at least two months before getting the bivalent booster. 
Question: Is masking required in classrooms during fall quarter?
Answer: Yes, masking is still required in indoor classrooms and instructional settings. Masking is also required in clinical areas, on Triton/university transportation and within residential units until further notice. Please visit the Masking and Operations webpage for more guidance and details about where to pick up free masks.
To learn more, visit the Return to Learn Questions & Answers page.
If you have specific questions or would like to submit feedback about the Return to Learn program, please email rtl@ucsd.edu.
University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093
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