Highlights:
Dear Spartans,
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic three years ago, public health and safety colleagues at Michigan State University and I have continued to assess the situation, partner with local and state public health agencies and respond with measures that keep Spartans healthy and safe. From the very beginning, we have prioritized the well-being of our community, and we appreciate every member of our community who did their part.
Throughout the pandemic, MSU met each new challenge with the most appropriate preventive measures available to us at the time, including implementing a COVID-19 vaccination requirement as a national surge of COVID-19 variants took hold in the summer of 2021. Many other institutions and organizations also initiated vaccination requirements as an appropriate public health measure.
Now, as both the virus and our understanding of it continues to evolve, there is widespread protection due to the number of individuals vaccinated. New vaccine boosters and treatment options are widely available, and we know better how to protect those most vulnerable. This evolution has led many institutions, the federal government and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to reassess their response to COVID-19 and adapt accordingly.
Thus, as the pandemic continues to shift from an acute public health crisis to a personal health responsibility, MSU no longer will require the COVID-19 vaccination for students, staff and faculty, effective today. There still may be limited situations in which professional students and employees must be vaccinated due to the requirements of the hospitals and health care facilities where they work and study.
As does the CDC, MSU health experts strongly encourage all members of the MSU community to stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations and all other vaccinations. For more information about MSU’s COVID-19 response, information on how to get a vaccination and frequently asked questions, please visit Together We Will.
Sincerely,
Michael Brown, M.D.
University Physician