Vaccination

A student gets a vaccine shot during a vaccination clinic at the University of St. Thomas April 23. The university contracted with Hi-Vee pharmacy to distribute the vaccine to UST students, staff and faculty. COURTESY MARK BROWN | UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS

Students at the two Catholic universities based in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis need to add one more item to their to-do list: Get a COVID-19 vaccine. And soon.

With some exceptions, including health or religious belief, the University of St. Catherine and the University of St. Thomas, both based in St. Paul, are requiring that students, faculty and staff be fully vaccinated before classes begin this fall. At St. Kate’s, that means by Aug. 16.

They join colleges and universities across the country establishing COVID vaccine guidelines. More than 600 of the approximate 4,000 college campuses in the U.S. have imposed a vaccine mandate, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education.

St. Kate’s website defines full vaccination as two doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or one dose of Johnson & Johnson — or another vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or World Health Organization.

Vaccination is a personal choice, but “the university believes this requirement is in the best interest of our community,” St. Kate’s said on its website.

The latest guidance and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Minnesota Department of Health and the American College Health Association support vaccination as the best way to protect against COVID-19, St. Kate’s said.

St. Thomas noted on its website Aug. 2 that the overall situation regarding COVID-19 is much different than a month ago, with “the highly contagious delta variant spreading rapidly.”

“Infection rates in Minnesota are once again headed in the wrong direction,” St. Thomas officials said. “Given these factors, St. Thomas is requiring all students, faculty and staff to be fully vaccinated before returning to campus for the fall semester, with opportunities to request exemptions.”

St. Thomas said it will continue to encourage people on campus who aren’t vaccinated to wear face coverings indoors.

Vaccination details can be found on the universities’ websites, stkate.edu and stthomas.edu.