Willamette University’s Salem campus (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
All eligible employees and students at Willamette University must receive a booster dose of Covid vaccine by Feb. 1, the university announced Dec. 30.
“Although experts believe that the two-dose vaccinations continue to do a good job of protecting us, evidence is mounting that a third ‘booster’ shot provides the best protection from this latest COVID variant and enhances public health,” the university’s Covid advisory team wrote in a Dec. 30 email.
The decision comes after other Oregon colleges, including Oregon State University and the University of Oregon, announced a booster shot requirement. Willamette previously intended to require boosters for the fall 2022 semester.
The university is also holding a two-week “quiet period” when students return from winter break on Jan. 10. During that period, students will be physically on campus, but most classes will be held online. The intent of the period is to identify any new Covid infections students acquired during travels over break and prevent them from spreading on campus, university President Steve Thorsett previously told Salem Reporter.
Willamette began requiring vaccination against Covid for students and employees at the start of its fall 2021 semester, with medical and religious exemptions available. Currently, 97% of undergraduate students, 91% of business school students, 96% of law school students and 96.6% of employees are vaccinated, according to the college’s Covid information page.
“We are investigating the possibility of providing a booster clinic on campus, but we cannot promise that this will be possible. We are thus providing this notice now, so that those who are eligible have ample time to prioritize getting a booster while you are on your break, as it may be more convenient for you to do so before classes start,” the email said.
The booster requirement applies to people who received their latest dose of a Pfizer or Moderna Covid vaccine at least six month ago, or the Johnson and Johnson vaccine at least two months ago.
-Rachel Alexander
