IU is considering requiring the COVID-19 vaccine for students and employees, Provost Lauren Robel said Tuesday at a Bloomington Faculty Council meeting.
Robel said health professionals at IU are weighing different options on if and how the vaccine could be required for students. One option would be to make the vaccine part of the immunizations list required for attending the university. Robel also said the vaccination could be made an employment requirement.
The university has been conducting studies to see how students feel about getting the vaccine, and it will continue to look at these surveys to help determine whether or not they require the vaccine, Robel said. Some survey results have shown about half of students would feel comfortable getting the vaccine, she said.
IU Health said on their website that the vaccine is safe. IU Health said Moderna and Pfiezer, two companies creating the vaccine, have made their data public so IU experts have been able to test and confirm that the vaccine is safe for those 16 years and older.
IU will be working with Monroe County health officials for vaccine distribution at IU, Robel said.
She said she hopes as many people as possible will get the vaccine, so IU can continue with its plan to have entirely in-person classes during the fall 2021 semester.
