The Covid-19 booster shot is becoming another mandate Delta is going to enforce among students, staff and faculty for upcoming semesters. Students and staff planning to return to campus for the Summer 2022 semester as well as Fall 2022 will now be required to submit proof of booster shot vaccination by March 18 or 6 months after becoming fully vaccinated, whichever date comes later.
By submitting booster shot proof by this date, it helps students to avoid possible delays in registering for classes for this summer. Students will still be able to register for classes if they get the booster after March 18, but there will be a higher chance of less seats in classes being available by then.
Medical or religious exemptions are still allowed in place of the booster shot as well. If a student has previously been granted a vaccine exemption, they don’t need to submit one again.
“Priority registration for summer begins March 21, so students who want to take advantage of that should definitely be planning to get their booster as soon as possible or apply for an exemption, if they haven’t already been granted one,” said Alex Breitler, the Director of Marketing, Communications and Outreach at Delta.
Breitler reassures Delta has the best interest of everyone on campus at heart. “From the beginning of the pandemic, our goal has been to follow public health guidelines to keep our students, staff and faculty as safe as possible,” he said.
Students do have differing views on this new mandate, however.
“This is the first time I’ve heard of it. I’m not really a fan, to be honest, of them wanting to force students to take additional booster shots if they want to come back to campus,” said first-year student Lincoln Sievers. “I’ve already been vaccinated twice just so I can come back to class this semester…”
Sievers does plan on returning to campus in the Fall, though.
“In regards to the booster shot, I’d have to think of that. I mean if it’s the only way to get on campus then I’ll probably end up just doing it but I already didn’t like having to get vaccinated in the first place to come to campus…”
Other Delta students, like Aaron Araquistain, believe enforcing the booster shot will be advantageous to the endemic.
“I would say it’s very beneficial because it would be able to help fight off this whole pandemic,” said Araquistain. “I’ll probably think about getting the booster. I’d like to come back in person… I like the campus and atmosphere here.”
For those who have not yet received the booster and that do plan on returning to campus for the Summer, Fall or both have easy access to getting this shot right here on campus. The Delta College Health Center (located on the first floor of the Locke building) is offering booster shots every Monday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“We definitely encourage students to take advantage of this on-campus service,” said Breitler.