College In Union County: Get Vaccinated Or We'll Deregister You

UNION, NJ — Students at Kean University were told this week that if they don't provide proof of a COVID vaccine by Aug. 1, they "will be deregistered from your courses for the fall 2021 semester."

The deadline comes at a time when medical professionals and officials are concerned about the rise in cases of the Delta variant of the virus in New Jersey. Most cases of coronavirus in the state are still among unvaccinated people. READ MORE: 'Breakthrough' COVID-19 Cases, Deaths In NJ: Here's What To Know

The website for the university's policy, "#VaxUpKean," states, "To safeguard the health and safety of the Kean community, students attending in-person classes or accessing any University facilities in the Fall 2021 semester must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19."

The mandate allows religious and medical exemptions.

More than a dozen colleges in New Jersey now require the vaccine on campus for some students, according to University Business's state-by-state list; however, they have individual parameters and opt-out policies.

Kean spokesperson Karen Smith said Tuesday, "The health and safety of the Kean community are our top priorities. Like hundreds of our peer institutions around the country, Kean is requiring students to be vaccinated for the fall semester for their own safety and the safety of those around them."

She declined to explain why staff and faculty are not required to get the shot, saying, "We are also strongly encouraging our faculty and staff to submit their vaccination records. We are excited to be coming back to campus and grateful to everyone who is doing their part to keep the Kean community safe."

Precedent Set This Week

A federal judge set a precedent this week by upholding Indiana University's COVID requirement for vaccinations and masks, after eight students challenged it.

At Rutgers, hundreds of students attended a May protest against that university's decision to require the shots. READ MORE: Hundreds Turn Up To Protest Rutgers' Vaccine Mandate For Students

A Kean student quoted by News 12 on Tuesday questioned whether vaccinated people could still get coronavirus anyway. The vaccine is 95 percent effective against the virus, and for the rest, the vaccine has reduced the chance of hospitalization and death, medical professionals say. More than 606,000 Americans have now died from COVID (see which states have the highest recent death rates here).

A recent study showed that 98 percent to 99 percent of recent COVID deaths in America were unvaccinated people.

Nationally, as of Monday, more than 186.3 million people, or about 56 percent of the U.S. population, have received at least one dose of the vaccine, the CDC said Monday. The number includes Americans of all ages, but children under 12 are not yet eligible to receive the shots.

More than 161.4 million, or about half of the U.S. population, are fully vaccinated, the CDC said.

Other NJ Coronavirus Information

• New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said last month that among public schools, there won't be a statewide mask mandate for schools in the fall, and each district will get to decide. READ MORE: No Mask Mandate For NJ Students This Fall
• READ MORE: 4 Things To Know About The Delta Variant Of Coronavirus In NJ
• READ MORE: NJ Mom Urges: Please Listen to COVID 'Long-Haulers'

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