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BETHANY -- Bethany College has announced it will require all students to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus prior to the start of the 2021-22 academic year.
The decision, announced Wednesday afternoon, was finalized by the college's Pandemic Response Team in accordance with ongoing guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
"I applaud our community for its commitment to protecting one another, and I believe strongly that our decision to require the vaccine will maximize the Bethany experience even more," Bethany President Tamara Nichols Rodenberg said in an email announcing the update.
The COVID-19 vaccination has been added to the college's existing list of student immunization requirements, including meningitis, Polio, DPT, MMR, and Tetanus Booster.
Consistent with all required vaccinations, Bethany College will honor immunization exemptions for medical, religious, and philosophical reasons. No student receiving an exemption will be prevented from fully participating in courses, campus activities, or athletics.
Specific provisions for students requesting exemptions will be made available on July 15 and may include surveillance testing, symptom tracking, and masking in certain situations.