SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras announced Friday that students at the state’s 64 public institutions will not be required to get vaccinated for COVID-19 ahead of the fall semester.
“The way we’re approaching this, it’s going to be voluntary,” Malatras said in a speech at Binghamton University Friday.
In his speech, Malatras noted that “demand for the vaccine is high among students, and as long as they continue to get the vaccine, there won't be a mandate put in place for the fall semester.”
Malatras announced Tuesday that 18,600 Johnson & Johnson vaccines — a one-shot vaccine, as opposed to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which both require two shots — will be distributed to residential students across 34 campuses in the coming week.
UB spokesperson John DellaContrada announced Sunday that “SUNY provided UB with 200 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and we anticipate receiving more of the vaccine as the national supply increases.” UB will begin administering the vaccine on Thursday and will be in contact with students this week about registering for the inoculation.
UB officials still recommend trying to obtain appointments off campus.
Malatras said that the state will reassess the situation in the coming months and “decide whether or not vaccines will be required to return to campus.”
Dan Eastman is the assistant managing editor and can be reached at danielson.eastman@ubspectrum.com
Dan Eastman is the assistant managing editor at The Spectrum. He is a senior geography major who loves Starbucks iced americano. When he isn’t writing and editing he is trying to find the best donut and cookie shops in Buffalo. He can be found on Twitter @TheEastMan2000.
