New Booster Requirement and Flu Reminder

In response to the significant increases of COVID cases across the country, the college has made the decision to move January term classes online and require all undergraduate students to receive a COVID booster prior to the start of the in-person spring semester or as soon as they become eligible. Individuals become eligible for a booster six months after the date of the final dose.

To ensure all records are updated for the spring, students should email booster verification documentation (I.e., picture of vaccine card, doctor note, etc.) to wellness@mcdaniel.edu.

Vaccine exempt students are not mandated to receive a COVID booster and will continue to be required to complete weekly testing during the spring semester. No additional requests for medical or religious exemptions will be considered. Any questions regarding this requirement can be directed to wellness@mcdaniel.edu.

Flu Vaccine Reminder

As a reminder, all students are required to receive the flu vaccine prior to returning to campus for the spring semester. For students who obtain the flu vaccine at an off-campus location, please use the following online form to upload verification that you have received the flu shot. If you are unable to get the flu vaccine due to extenuating medical or personal circumstances, please complete the following online form to explain your inability to receive the flu vaccine.

Any student who received the flu shot on campus is asked to email their name to the Wellness Center at wellness@mcdaniel.edu so that staff members may confirm that the requirement has been met.

Although we recognize that the flu shot does not prevent COVID, it does reduce the risk of developing COVID-like symptoms. This is important to alleviate unnecessary testing and quarantining.

As has been the case throughout the pandemic, the health and safety of our entire community is our top priority. Based on current data, we are confident that booster shots will be the most effective means to prevent additional spread of the virus, protect the most vulnerable members of our community, and ensure we can continue to enjoy the in-person learning and community engagement that define the residential experience.

Thank you for all you are doing, individually and collectively, to keep one another safe and equip our community for a successful spring semester.

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