COVID Vaccine Mandate For Higher-Ed Proposed In NJ Lawmaker's Bill

NEW JERSEY — A bill in the State Assembly would impose a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for students, staff and other employees at higher-education institutions in New Jersey.

Many colleges and universities throughout New Jersey have already developed COVID-vaccination requirements for in-person attendance, while some institutions require boosters. But the state didn't require them to do so. The Assembly bill, if passed, would make COVID vaccination a requirement for the 2022-23 school year.

The mandate wouldn't apply to those who only virtually attend an institution. Under the bill, people can also get a medical exemption through a doctor's note or an exemption for "bona fine religious tenets or practices" that conflict with the vaccination.

The bill doesn't clarify what stage of COVID vaccination a person must reach before the school year. Some colleges in New Jersey required students and employees to complete an initial vaccination course — two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna shots, or one Johnson & Johnson inoculation. Several institutions initiated booster requirements, as well.

Assemblymember Herb Conaway Jr. (D-7) sponsored the bill, while Assemblymember Ralph R. Caputo (D-28) remains the lone cosponsor.

The bill, introduced June 20, was referred to the Assembly Health Committee, which hasn't voted on the measure. State Senator Joseph F. Vitale (D-19) introduced a similar measure Jan. 11, which has remained within the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Services Committee.

Vaccines requirements aren't new at universities. For instance, Rutgers University students must comply with several different immunizations, including vaccination against COVID, influenza, hepatitis B and measles.

New Jersey requires higher-education students to receive immunization for meningitis. But no state has required the COVID vaccine as a requirement for attending higher-education institutions, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.