COVID-19 vaccination required for SUNY, CUNY students starting this fall – Times Union

ALBANY Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said Monday that State University of New York campuses will require COVID-19 vaccinations for students starting in the fall semester.

The policy will also apply to the City University of New York, and Cuomo said he would encourage private colleges to adopt it as well. It starts by September, and if the federal government doesn't give full approval to the vaccines beyond the current emergency authorization, the policy would not apply.

Cuomo had thus far resisted requirements for vaccinations, saying it will likely spur lawsuits and resistance. College students in the state are already required to prove vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella.

SUNY does not have an estimate of how may students, faculty and employees have been vaccinated for COVID-19. In response to a request for that information, a spokeswoman responded: "With students and faculty having several options and locations for vaccinations we are currently monitoring the reception to vaccines on campus, and recently sent a survey to our students both on our campuses and learning remotely. "

Monday's announcement was the latest in a series of incentives Cuomo has introduced to compel New Yorkers to receive their vaccinations. Supply and availability are at the highest points they've ever been, but demand for shots has gone down, data shows. All state-run sites have gone to walk-in for anyone 16-and-older, and Cuomo said Monday that the residency requirement is also being waived. Tourists from other states can receive their vaccinations while visiting New York.

Cuomo added that he plans to introduce a law that banned discrimination against people who received vaccines.

The statewide positivity rate reported Monday was 1.4 percent, a continuation of the low trend, and there were 27 deaths.

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COVID-19 vaccination required for SUNY, CUNY students starting this fall - Times Union