Your Questions Answered
Question: What is the deadline to comply with the University of California COVID-19 vaccination policy?
Answer: Compliance with the
University of California COVID-19 vaccination policy is required by Sept. 6, 2021, which is two weeks before faculty, staff and students are expected to be on campus for the fall term. All campus members are required to be fully vaccinated, which is defined as two weeks after your final dose of vaccine, or have submitted and been approved for an exception or deferral.
Question: Why is the University of California requiring vaccination against COVID-19 when the vaccines haven’t received full FDA approval?
Answer: UC arrived at this policy after reviewing the safety and efficacy of the three vaccines approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for emergency use, and after considering the severe risks presented by a virus that has killed more than 600,000 people in the United States alone as well as the rise of variants that are more transmissible and more virulent.
All COVID-19 vaccines offered under the FDA’s approval based on emergency use authorization (EUA)—or full approval by the FDA, as expected in the coming months—will satisfy the vaccination requirement.
Question: Does the University of California COVID-19 Vaccination Policy require vaccination for all students, or only those who participate in on-site activities?
Answer: The requirement to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination (or to submit a request for exception or deferral) takes effect for all students as a condition of in-person access to UC locations or programs (even if not at a UC location, such as an athletics or study abroad program) by Sept. 6, 2021. The small number of students whose programs are primarily remote will still need to provide proof of full vaccination (or submit a request for exception or deferral) before returning to campus.
The University continues to encourage all individuals to be vaccinated even if they will not be on-site this fall. Vaccination against the virus that causes COVID-19 is a critical step for protecting the health and safety of our communities and ending the pandemic.
Learn more on the UC COVID-19 Vaccination Policy FAQ for Students.