PLU COVID-19 Vaccine Policy - updated May 2023

The federal Public Health Emergency initiated at the beginning of the COVID pandemic is ending on May 11, 2023. Despite this important benchmark, the CDC, Washington State Department of Health, and other public health entities continue to emphasize that the pandemic is not over, but has entered a next phase. For this reason, PLU is continuing to require COVID-19 vaccination among students in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19 on campus, to anticipate the emergence of new variants, and to reduce health risks to students, staff, and our community. This requirement can be fulfilled by the initial monovalent series, but PLU strongly recommends that all students receive a single primary or booster dose of the bivalent COVID vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna – released 8/31/2022)**. A single dose of the bivalent vaccine is now understood to provide sufficient protection against significant infection from COVID, even without having received any other prior COVID vaccines

If a student chooses NOT to receive a bivalent COVID vaccine, a completed primary series of an approved monovalent COVID vaccine (the first COVID vaccines ever to be released) is then required. These include:

Moderna Spikevax                                              Pfizer/BioNTech Comirnaty

Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) Jcovden.      Oxford /AstraZeneca Vaxzevria

Serum Institute of India Covishield               Serum Institute of India COVOVAX

Sinopharm Covilo                                              Sinovac CoronaVac

Bharat Biotech Covaxin                                   Novavax Nuvaxovid

CanSino Convidecia

Vaccines records must be submitted to fulfill this requirement. 

  • Vaccination records are to be submitted to the Health Center by using your epass to upload a copy to etrieve, by faxing to 253-536-5042, or by mailing to PLU Health Center, 12180 Park Ave S, Tacoma WA 98447. Please do not email this confidential personal health information.

**The exception to this is the fully online Master of Science in Marketing Analytics. There is no vaccination requirement for this program.

Exemptions

As with other immunizations, students with documented medical or religious exemptions will be accommodated and not required to receive the vaccine. Students requesting religious or medical exemptions must complete the COVID Vaccine Exemption form

The CDC has modified their guidelines for individuals who have been exposed to COVID, regardless of their vaccination status. Please be sure you are aware of and knowledgeable about these recommendations. 

The university will continue to monitor and review CDC, Washington State, Northwest Conference, and NCAA guidance to determine aligned policy and procedures for participation in university activities.

Allowances for students who cannot locate an approved vaccine prior to arriving on campus

Individuals who were unable to access an WHO-authorized vaccine prior to coming to campus (see above list) will be given a grace period in which to get the vaccine. Those students—we anticipate that these will be primarily international students—will have seven days upon arrival to campus to obtain their vaccination. Our local Public Health Department and local pharmacies can provide the bivalent vaccine.

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PLU reserves the right to amend this policy and related procedures, based on changes to CDC, state and local public health, NW Conference and NCAA guidance.

Submit your COVID-19 documentation (Students)

Click here to submit your COVID-19 documentation to the PLU Health Center. (ePass-protected)

COVID-19 Vaccine Medical Exemption Form

COVID-19 Vaccine Religious & Right to Conscience Exemption Form

*The exception to this is the fully online Master of Science in Marketing Analytics. There is no vaccination requirement for this program.

 

Updated: May 14, 2021