Columbia University to end COVID-19 vaccine mandate – New York Daily News - New York Daily News | By The Perfect Enemy

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Columbia University will end its COVID-19 vaccine requirement as the national public health emergency expires this spring.


In a memo to students, faculty and staff, University Provost Mary Boyce announced last week that the mandate “will no longer be in effect” starting May 11, and proof of vaccination will cease to be required.





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“At this point in time, the status of the COVID-19 pandemic has improved substantially, with cases and hospitalizations continuing to decline in New York City and the US,” wrote Boyce.


“This is due to a combination of factors, including availability of vaccines and booster doses, immune response after infection, access to effective COVID-19 treatment, and the appropriate use of other protective measures,” read the memo.





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On an unseasonably warm day, students relax on the front steps of Low Memorial Library on the Columbia University campus in New York City on Friday, February 10, 2023.

On an unseasonably warm day, students relax on the front steps of Low Memorial Library on the Columbia University campus in New York City on Friday, February 10, 2023. (Ted Shaffrey/AP)




The announcement comes after President Biden told Congress last month that he will end ongoing emergency declarations related to the pandemic on the same date.


Columbia is one of the early adopters in shifting vaccine policy. New York University still requires the vaccine, according to its website. The City University of New York requires students to be fully vaccinated, though booster doses are optional.


All students at the State University of New York system must receive their first two doses, though the requirement does not apply to faculty and staff.


Asked about getting rid of the COVID-19 vaccine requirement at a hearing in Albany on Monday, SUNY Chancellor John King said: “We’ve been guided by advice from public health experts, and continue to gather that advice to ensure that we’re following the best available guidance.”


Columbia University officials still recommend following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines that recommend up-to-date vaccines, including booster doses.


The updated guidance also applies to visitors and vendors, who will no longer need to show proof of vaccination to come on campus.



#Coronavirus, #PublicHealth, #Vaccines
Published on The Perfect Enemy at https://bit.ly/3IWqrn0.

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