COVID-19 Vaccination Required At MSJC Starting In 2022

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Starting next year, Mt. San Jacinto College students, faculty and staff will need to provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination in order to access any of the MSJC campuses.

The mandate was approved Thursday by the Mt. San Jacinto Community College District Board of Trustees.

The requirement will go into effect at the start of the Spring 2022 semester that begins in January.

As part of the protocol approved by the board, weekly COVID-19 testing — regardless of vaccination status — is expected to begin by Nov. 1. and will likely continue into Spring, according to MSJC spokesperson Karin Marriott.

The district is working to secure a third-party vendor to assist with vaccinations and weekly testing to meet a planned target date of Nov. 1.

In the meantime, MSJC campuses will continue with current protocols for attendance of face-to-face courses, on-campus services, and extra-curricular activities, including athletics. The requirements include wearing masks and completing a daily COVID-19 symptom checklist, regardless of vaccination status. For unvaccinated people, weekly COVID-19 testing — with proof of a negative result — is required.

Weekly testing in lieu of vaccination will only be available through the Fall 2021 semester.

"The decision to implement a vaccine/testing program came in response to the increasing cases of COVID-19 in the region. The plan enables the superintendent/president to amend the program as needed based on the evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic," according to a district statement.

See the latest Riverside County COVID-19 figures here.