COVID booster shots now will be required at these Charlotte-area schools by spring
Three Charlotte-area colleges will now require COVID-19 booster shots for students, faculty and staff as the number of coronavirus cases continues to increase nationwide amid the emergence of the omicron variant.
Davidson College and Johnson & Wales University announced the new requirements on Tuesday. Queens University of Charlotte alerted its campus last week.
Those who received the two-dose Pfizer and Moderna vaccines should get a booster six months after their second shot, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recipients of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine should get either a Pfizer or Moderna booster after two months, the CDC recommends.
Davidson College said students would need the booster in order to return for spring semester, which begins on Jan. 20. If a student isn’t eligible, the college said they should plan to get a booster shot as soon as they can.
“We are requiring students to get a booster shot because they generally live in congregate settings, and data suggest a booster shot offers more protection against both infection and serious illness,” Davidson spokesman Jay Pfeifer said.
The college also is strongly urging its faculty and staff to receive the booster shot, but employees aren’t required to do so yet, Pfeifer said.
The booster requirement at Johnson & Wales University’s Charlotte campus applies to those who do not have an exemption for medical or religious reasons approved by health services or human resources.
The deadline for the shot will be March 1, or within 30 days of becoming booster eligible, according to the school.
In July, the university said it would require COVID-19 vaccinations.
Queens set a Feb. 15 deadline to abide by the requirement, or as soon as students, faculty and staff are eligible for a booster, the school’s Senior Leadership Team said in a letter to the campus last week.
Students at the Myers Park campus will have to send their updated vaccinated cards to CovidVacStudents@queens.edu, while faculty and staff will send theirs to VaccineDocsFacultyStaff@queens.edu.
Other Charlotte-area colleges
Not all other higher-learning institutions in Charlotte are requiring vaccinations and boosters, but they are encouraging them.
UNC Charlotte’s status hasn’t changed regarding vaccines or booster shots, school spokesman Jason Vaughan told the Observer on Tuesday.
“We encourage all students, staff and faculty to receive the vaccine and booster shots to keep the campus community safe,” Vaughan said.
UNC Charlotte is offering COVID-19 resources through its Niner Nation Cares website, like vaccination sites and case reporting forms.
Jeff Lowrance, spokesman for Central Piedmont Community College, said he isn’t aware of plans to require vaccinations.
However, CPCC continues to monitor federal and state directives which could mandate vaccinations, Lowrance said. As new developments arise, the college will keep students and employees informed and up to date on any new government requirements, he said.
Officials at Johnson C. Smith University did not immediately respond to an Observer request for comment about possible booster requirements.
In May, Johnson C. Smith University implemented a “university-wide vaccine mandate” requiring students to receive COVID vaccinations for the fall semester.
This story was originally published December 21, 2021 at 4:00 PM with the headline "COVID booster shots now will be required at these Charlotte-area schools by spring."
