Duke University Joins 11 Other Universities In Requiring A COVID-19 Vaccine To Return To Campus

Duke University is following suit with 11 other colleges around the U.S. in requiring all students and new students to be COVID-19 vaccinated in order to return to campus and register for classes.

The universities that have already announced the requirement include Rutgers, Cornell, Ithaca, Notre Dame, Northeastern, Brown, Roger Williams, Nova Southeastern, Fort Lewis, St. Edwards and Syracuse, according to a Fox News affiliate.

“Looking ahead, we know that widespread vaccination will be the only way to facilitate a return to normal and robust campus life. With this in mind, we plan to require all new and returning Duke students to present proof of vaccination to Student Health before they can enroll for the Fall 2021 semester,” Duke president, Vincent Price, stated on Friday.

“This policy will cover all undergraduate, graduate, and professional students — in all degree programs — who intend to be on the Duke campus for any period of time starting with the Fall 2021 semester. Documented medical and religious exemptions will be accommodated," he continued.

This is just an addition to the already required vaccinations in order to attend college, like polio, diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough.

Some of these schools, like Syracuse, St. Edwards, Nova Southeastern and Brown, announced that faculty and staff will also have to be vaccinated, but others have yet to make a decision on this requirement, CNN reported.

Those that have a medical condition or have religious beliefs when it comes to the vaccine will be exempt from this requirement, as well as those who attend their college classes virtually.