Miami University will require the COVID-19 vaccine for all students and staff, university officials announced Tuesday.Beginning Nov. 22, all students and staff will be required to be fully vaccinated, university officials said.This applies to all full-time and part-time faculty and staff and all undergraduate and graduate students who have any presence on any Miami University campus or university-owned or -controlled property.There are exemptions, university officials said, which include medical with documentation; or sincerely held religious beliefs, practices or observances, or reasons of conscience, including philosophical and ethical beliefs.Additionally, a deferral may be granted for pregnancy or nursing or for those who have had COVID-19 within 90 days preceding Oct. 25.Students who do not receive an exemption and do not share proof of vaccination will not be able to register for classes for the spring semester, university officials said.The university has been considering a mandate for more than a week after 150 Miami faculty members signed an open letter to university officials calling to make proof of vaccination a requirement, now that Pfizer's vaccine has received full approval from the Food and Drug Administration.Sophomore Savannah Walls has said she supports the decision to mandate vaccinations at the university."I totally believe that it can be your choice, but when you're affecting that many other people like with this pandemic, I feel like it should be mandated," Walls said.Jeremy Boncela hoped he will continue to be able to choose whether to get vaccinated during the fall semester."Personally, I'm not vaccinated, just because I think it's been not long enough to know what could happen," Boncela said. "Also, I'm a Catholic. And just as a religious thing I feel like I don't need to take it."As of last week, about 25% of Miami's students who are on campus have either declined to take the shot or refused to share their vaccine status with school leaders.Miami is the latest university in the Cincinnati area to mandate vaccinations, following in the footsteps of Xavier University and Ohio State University.Other area universities are still debating mandatory masks.At the University of Cincinnati, officials say they are considering it, particularly after several state universities have implemented similar policies. President Neville Pinto released a statement last week, saying they are watching other schools and universities closely as they consider a similar mandate.
Miami University will require the COVID-19 vaccine for all students and staff, university officials announced Tuesday.
Beginning Nov. 22, all students and staff will be required to be fully vaccinated, university officials said.
This applies to all full-time and part-time faculty and staff and all undergraduate and graduate students who have any presence on any Miami University campus or university-owned or -controlled property.
There are exemptions, university officials said, which include medical with documentation; or sincerely held religious beliefs, practices or observances, or reasons of conscience, including philosophical and ethical beliefs.
Additionally, a deferral may be granted for pregnancy or nursing or for those who have had COVID-19 within 90 days preceding Oct. 25.
Students who do not receive an exemption and do not share proof of vaccination will not be able to register for classes for the spring semester, university officials said.
The university has been considering a mandate for more than a week after 150 Miami faculty members signed an open letter to university officials calling to make proof of vaccination a requirement, now that Pfizer's vaccine has received full approval from the Food and Drug Administration.
Sophomore Savannah Walls has said she supports the decision to mandate vaccinations at the university.
"I totally believe that it can be your choice, but when you're affecting that many other people like with this pandemic, I feel like it should be mandated," Walls said.
Jeremy Boncela hoped he will continue to be able to choose whether to get vaccinated during the fall semester.
"Personally, I'm not vaccinated, just because I think it's been not long enough to know what could happen," Boncela said. "Also, I'm a Catholic. And just as a religious thing I feel like I don't need to take it."
As of last week, about 25% of Miami's students who are on campus have either declined to take the shot or refused to share their vaccine status with school leaders.
Miami is the latest university in the Cincinnati area to mandate vaccinations, following in the footsteps of Xavier University and Ohio State University.
Other area universities are still debating mandatory masks.
At the University of Cincinnati, officials say they are considering it, particularly after several state universities have implemented similar policies. President Neville Pinto released a statement last week, saying they are watching other schools and universities closely as they consider a similar mandate.
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