Vaccination Requirement
The below vaccination and booster requirements will remain in effect for the fall 2022 semester.
Drew University will require a COVID-19 vaccination for all students planning to be on campus during the 2021–2022 academic year. This includes undergraduate and graduate students; students participating in our joint and collaborative programs with other institutions; and visiting, exchange, non-matriculated, and special-program students. Review questions and answers about the requirement below.
Prior to the fall 2021 semester, students were required to upload their record of COVID-19 immunization—defined as a complete series of any COVID-19 vaccine authorized for use in the U.S. by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), and World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Use Listing (EUL)—to their Drew University Student Health Portal.
Requests for exemptions for medical or religious reasons are considered on an individual basis. Find request forms at the Health Service website.
The University is committed to assisting international students make their safe returns to campus and will work closely and on a case-by-case basis with those who may not be able to obtain the vaccine prior to leaving their home country, due to the challenges surrounding visa obtainment and restrictions on travel.
August 25, 2021: The University announced that all faculty, adjunct faculty, staff, temporary employees, and independent contractors working on Drew’s campus must be fully vaccinated by October 15, 2021. Prior to this decision, faculty and staff were asked to complete this Vaccine Information Form to voluntarily share their COVID-19 vaccine status or intention, as well as their COVID-19 vaccination record. Though 95 percent of employees confirmed they had been fully vaccinated, the full FDA approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and “high” transmission rates of the Delta variant in all New Jersey counties prompted the decision to require vaccination for all employees.
This policy is subject to change based on factors such as the progress of the COVID-19 pandemic and guidance from governmental authorities.
December 2021: Drew announced it would require all students, faculty, staff, and contract workers to receive a COVID-19 booster no later than March 31, 2022. Read the full announcement here.
Yes. Prior to the 2021-22 academic year, Drew University required all students enrolled full time or part time in a Drew school or program to receive, and provide proof of having received, a COVID-19 vaccination authorized by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or World Health Organization (WHO). This policy remains in effect for the fall 2022 semester.
In addition to the COVID-19 vaccine, several other immunizations are required for all undergraduate and graduate students by the State of New Jersey and the University. This includes our joint and collaborative programs with other institutions, as well as for all of our visiting, exchange, non-matriculated, and special-program students. For more information, please refer to the Health Service webpage on required immunizations.
Yes, on December 20, 2021, the University announced it would require all students, faculty, staff, and contract workers to receive a COVID-19 booster no later than March 31, 2022 – six months from when most faculty and staff were required to be fully vaccinated, making most non-exempt individuals eligible for their boosters within the window. Read the full announcement and information here. This policy remains in effect for fall 2022 and all those eligible for a second booster are encouraged to receive one.
No. Students who will not come to campus and whose entire course of study is web-based, who are enrolled in a fully online degree program, and/or who are fully remote will be exempt from this policy.
Students are required to have a COVID-19 vaccine authorized by the FDA or WHO. Refer to the FDA website and WHO website for more information. Those who have received a different vaccine should reach out to health@drew.edu with any questions and to review possible next steps.
Students should upload their completed COVID-19 vaccination record to their Drew University Student Health Portal.
Your information will remain in your health portal. As is the policy with other required vaccinations, should a requirement not be met, the University Health Service will share with appropriate parties (typically the Registrar’s Office and Student Affairs) that there is a “health hold.” This hold serves to inform campus offices outside of the Health Service that your campus access is restricted.
Students who were unable to receive an FDA- or WHO-authorized vaccine (for example, international students traveling from certain countries) prior to their arrival or return to campus had the opportunity to consult with staff about whether vaccination here in New Jersey is appropriate. For those who may be directed to be vaccinated in New Jersey, a grace period for vaccination will allow for this. If students had already received vaccines that are not authorized by the FDA or WHO, Drew made individualized determinations about the need for additional vaccines based on which vaccines such students had received and relevant public health guidance. Questions about this can be directed to health@drew.edu.
If students already received vaccines that are not authorized by the FDA or WHO, the Health Service made individualized determinations about the need for additional vaccines based on which vaccines such students have received and relevant public health guidance in effect for the fall 2021 semester. Questions about this can be directed to health@drew.edu.
Drew University requires all undergraduate and graduate students enrolled or otherwise present on campus to receive, and provide proof of having received, an FDA- or WHO-authorized COVID-19 vaccine.
Medical and religious exemptions from the vaccination requirement will be granted in accordance with the University’s policies and will be considered on an individual basis. Find request forms at the Health Service website. Questions about this can be directed to health@drew.edu.
No. Currently, there is no exemption to the policy for those who have been exposed and have antibodies. Read more from the CDC.
Yes. On August 25, 2021, the University announced it would require all faculty, adjunct faculty, staff, temporary employees, and independent contractors working on Drew’s campus to be fully vaccinated by October 15, 2021.