Hello Fellow Trojans,

Virginia State University is now requiring students to get the booster shot in order to remain on campus for the 2022 Spring Semester. Being that Virginia State University is committed to our health and safety, it is a disservice to the student's well-being that the booster shot is mandatory, and not optional. 

First and foremost, we have to wait AT LEAST 6 months to get the booster shot. We do not know how early or late each and every student got their 1st and 2nd dose of the vaccine. The CDC states the booster shot is “recommended”, not MANDATORY. In early July, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a rare joint statement saying, “Americans who have been fully vaccinated do not need a booster shot at this time.” The agencies’ explanation: “People who are fully vaccinated are protected from severe disease and death, including from the variants currently circulating in the country such as Delta.”

 In order to stay on campus for the 2021 Fall Semester, we had to get BOTH covid-19 vaccine doses. Along with this precaution, Virginia State University has worked diligently to ensure the safety of the student body to the best of our abilities. Wearing masks, annual covid testing, and social distancing measures.  

It would be greatly appreciated by the student body of Virginia State University, to make the booster requirement for the 2022 Spring Semester an optional choice. This booster shot has caused growing concern for students being that it is mandatory in order to remain on our college campus. This is a human advocacy petition, and we hope our voices are heard and considerable action is applied. 

Thank You

Sources for you to read if you’d like!

https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/p1021-covid-booster.html

https://news.northeastern.edu/2021/08/02/im-fully-vaccinated-against-covid-19-do-i-need-a-booster-shot/