Syracuse University to require booster shots for spring semester

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse University (SU) will require all eligible students, faculty and staff who “routinely” use any SU campus location or facility to get a booster shot prior to the start of the spring semester, or as soon as they become eligible.

The sites include the Washington, D.C., New York City, Los Angeles and all study -abroad locations.

The university said it made the decision “given data and counsel from public health experts indicating that booster shots are critical to enhancing immunity and public health.”  

That’s according to a letter to students, families, faculty, and staff from J. Michael Haynie, SU vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation, posted Monday on the Syracuse University news website.

People eligible to get the booster shots are those individuals who (1) received their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccination at least six months ago, and (2) received the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccination at least two months ago.

Individuals who previously received other World Health Organization-approved vaccinations should receive a Pfizer booster dose if they received their initial vaccine series at least six months ago, in accordance with CDC guidance, per the SU letter.

In addressing students on the topic, Syracuse University said, as was the case with the initial COVID vaccine, once students receive a booster they need to upload the relevant documentation via the student Patient Portal. In the coming days, students will receive an email from the Barnes Center with additional information related to how and when to upload their documentation.

As for SU faculty and staff, verification requirements associated with employee vaccinations are currently being updated given a recent change to federal guidance impacting any entity considered a federal contractor. The implications of this change for Syracuse University employees are described in the letter.

Besides the COVID-19 booster-shot requirement, the letter also addresses new federal-contractor vaccine compliance/verification requirement for employees, spring-semester return and arrival testing, and flu-vaccination compliance.

Haynie’s letter also indicates that SU’s public-health team continues to monitor public-health conditions locally and across the U.S., including data related to the new Omicron variant.