Salem State Moves To Require Staff Coronavirus Vaccinations

SALEM, MA — Salem State University will require all non-union employees to be vaccinated against the coronavirus this fall, and is working with the school's three unions to make the staff vaccinations universal.

All students in the Massachusetts state college system were already required to be vaccinated before they return to camps in the upcoming weeks.

All employees covered under this policy will be required to submit proof of vaccination and must receive their first dose of the Moderna, Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson vaccine by Sept. 1, with a second dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine by Oct. 1, unless they have applied for and received a medical or religious exemption.

The school said religious and medical exemptions will be reviewed and granted following the same exemption procedures the university utilizes in the case of other vaccination requirements consistent with state law and past campus practice.

Those who remain unvaccinated under the exemptions will be required to participate in regular coronavirus testing until the university determines those measures are no longer required.

"Your health and safety, as well as the wellbeing of our campus and host communities, continues to be our top priority," Salem State University President John Keenan said in a letter to the school community. "As we continue to combat the worst global pandemic in more than a century, we are adopting this policy because vaccines are the best way to protect ourselves and our community against the COVID-19 virus.

"They also help to protect those unable to get vaccinated."

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)