The University of Illinois is now requiring students, staff, and faculty to get a COVID-19 boost shot when they are eligible.
University of Illinois President Tim Killeen wrote, “There is now significant evidence that vaccinations plus boosters are effective at preventing infections from developing into serious illness,” in a Mass Mail Thursday.
Chancellor Robert Jones added, “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has already been recommending that everyone should receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster. With the emergence of the Omicron variant and holiday travel, increasing positive COVID-19 cases present real risks, and the requirement of a booster shot adds to our multi-layered approach to maximizing everyone’s safety.”
Students who already received exemptions from the vaccination requirement for medical or religious reasons will be exempted from the booster requirement. For employees covered by a union contract, guidance will be implemented at the universities through the applicable collective bargaining processes.
“Throughout the pandemic we have worked diligently to keep our universities and their surrounding communities safe. Now, in the face of this new variant, we must again act collectively to protect both the health and safety of our communities and the quality of the educational experience that makes the U of I System truly extraordinary,” Killeen wrote.
