With classes set to resume at the end of this month, it is a race against time by local colleges to make sure that this upcoming academic school year can be held as safely as possible. Adelphi University, which is located in Garden City, told its student body last week that it is requiring them to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
As the super contagious Delta variant sweeps across the country, Adelphi University’s positivity rate is 0.6 percent as of publication. According to its website, the university’s vaccine requirement applies to all current students and Nassau Community College students who are living in Adelphi’s residence halls. The university, which also urged its faculty and staff to be vaccinated, said that its goal is to reach herd immunity. In order to reach that immunity, 70 percent of Adelphi University’s on-campus population must be fully vaccinated.
“Your COVID-19 vaccine must be currently authorized by the World Health Organization (WHO),” the university said on its website. “This includes those vaccines currently authorized for emergency use in the United States (Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson). You are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after administration of the second dose of a two-dose vaccine (Pfizer and Moderna) or two weeks after administration of a single-dose vaccine (Johnson & Johnson).”
Wednesday, Aug. 11, is the deadline for students to upload proof of their vaccination to the university.
“If your vaccination will not be completed by the Aug. 11 deadline, call Adelphi Health Services at 516-877-6002 to arrange for a temporary waiver of the vaccination requirement while you complete your vaccination,” the website continued to say. “Once vaccination is complete, you must upload your proof.”
Until students are fully vaccinated, they’re required to follow established health and safety protocols that apply to unvaccinated individuals such as masking and social distancing.
If students would rather attend via remote learning, they do not have to be vaccinated. However, if they visit the campus, they’re required to show proof of vaccination or wear a mask. Students can also be exempted for religious or medical reasons.
So what happens to students if they don’t comply with the vaccine requirement?
“If you are not in compliance with the university’s immunization policy, you will receive alerts and reminders to submit proof of vaccination,” the university said. “If you remain noncompliant beyond the indicated deadlines or any university-approved grace period, you will not be permitted on campus, which may impact your enrollment in classes.”
Back in May, Adelphi University, which has a student body of approximately 7,350 students, launched a vaccine incentive program to encourage students to be vaccinated. To date, only 26 percent of the university’s student population has uploaded proof of full vaccination. However, a spokesperson for the university said that the 26 percent is an estimate and a moving target.
Molloy College and Hofstra University are also requiring its students to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for the fall.
