Since the fall 2021 semester, Rutgers University has required its students to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
That ended on Monday, when the university dropped the policy.
“As of April 1, 2024, Rutgers no longer requires students, faculty, staff, and university affiliates to be immunized against the COVID-19 virus,” a message on the school’s website stated.
A Rutgers spokeswoman confirmed the policy change to NJ Advance Media as well.
“Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rutgers has followed scientific guidance from our own health experts and federal health care organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to determine requirements to best protect our community members,” she said. “We committed to follow public health trends and adjust our policies as needed, as we have done today.”
Rutgers said it was the first university to require COVID-19 vaccines, which prompted a federal lawsuit by an anti-vaccine group founded by Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Earlier this year, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit rejected the challenge.
Prior to Monday’s decision, the only way students could be on campus without vaccinations was to request exemptions from the requirement, and their requests were evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
“Pre-employment screening for flu immunization during flu season will continue,” Antonio M. Calcado, Rutgers Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer said in a statement. “Students in some programs may have continued requirements for clinical placements outside of Rutgers.
Rutgers was one of the last universities in the state to still maintain a vaccine requirement.
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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
