Regis extends vaccine requirement to include boosters to be fully vaccinated
Dear Regis Community:
The highly contagious Omicron variant of COVID-19 is becoming the dominant strain nationally with a dramatic spike in cases across the country. The University is closely monitoring national, local and campus conditions to be prepared in case any of our current protocols must change for the start of the Spring semester in January.
In the meantime, it is vital that we take the necessary steps now to help keep our campus open and community safe. Effective immediately, Regis University will extend the vaccine requirement to include booster shots. If you have not yet received an initial vaccine or booster, I invite you to make this part of your winter break plans.
Faculty, staff and students are now required to show proof of their booster by February 1, 2022, or six months after receiving a second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine and two months after getting the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.
Current recommendations allow for individuals who originally received a Moderna, Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson vaccine should receive a booster of EITHER Pfizer or Moderna.
Faculty and staff may upload documentation via Workday (See instructions and select “vaccine booster” for the document category) while students will continue to use the Maxient portal. Approved exemptions remain in place; if you submitted a revised religious exemption form by the December 3 deadline, you will receive a response by December 31.
While our campus vaccination rate is 94%, the Omicron variant is far more contagious than previous strains. Booster shots are vital to protect the community from infection, serious illness and hospitalization. We need everyone to do their part not only to protect their own health but the health of your colleagues, classmates, friends and neighbors. Vaccination is particularly vital to help relieve our healthcare professionals who are carrying the burden of consistent high hospitalization rates largely due to unvaccinated individuals contracting COVID-19.
The COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are safe, effective and free. Nearly 500 million doses have been administered in this country. Nearly two-thirds of Americans are vaccinated but more need to receive the vaccine if we are to defeat this pandemic.
You can find options to get a booster shot in Colorado on the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment website or anywhere in the country using vaccines.gov. We are striving to provide additional opportunities on campus in January. Please watch for additional announcements.
We thank the Regis community for its vigilance, resilience and care for each other throughout this pandemic. I hope and pray that this holiday season will be joyful, restful and healthful for us all.
Gratefully,
Rev. John P. Fitzgibbons, S.J.
President